@ Ollie I heard what you said, come to think of it this people are human like you and me. why the discrimination, I see my husband as the most wonderful man on earth. I really thank God that I find him. For crying out loud i am a Christian not a pagan please. my kids will not suffer for what they know nothing about.

Jesus came to the world to cleans us  original sins. Why will the sins of their forefather  affect them and their household.

If only it was a only pagan problem, but this transcends christianinty, education, elightenment etc. I find it evil and unfair. I do not agree with it. That said, it is still alive and when people want to get married in Igbo land this issue comes up in the enquiries.

I admire you for your courage in going ahead and wish you luck. Maybe if more people crossed over it will help in getting rid of this evil.

I cannot even recall what I was looking for when I came across this Web forum. Woowee! The more you live, the more you learn! I just had to bookmark the site and register. I'm Jamaican but a great part of our culture is owed to Igbo input from slavery times (e.g., we still say "oonu" for "you" plural). But thank heavens that this 'Outcast' or 'Osu' system didn't survive; what an abomination!

From what I've learnt here, the young lady must be congratulated for making the brave choice of "love first". Somebody suggested that she move to a neutral place, I agree. How about a big city, or better yet, Europe of North America? In fact, every Osu should do so! In time there wouldn't be any of the caste left! The law against that system needs to be renewed and teeth put into it.

I must say thanks particularly to "Youngies" for the fine explanation of the system and its roots. I wonder if someone from the West, say I for instance, were to be in Igboland, whether I would be an Osu too (being a slave offspring). Wow!

@ AckeeEater lol Good talk

If the present day generation of the Ibos wont destroy this hateful tradition of osu, while complaining of being denied their share of the National cake, then that is a display of hypocrisy.

Ogejov, my dear, you're welcome. I wish you all the luck in the world. Remember, your future kids will not deserve being looked down on for stupidity like Osu, so please move or migrate.

Ndipe:

If the present day generation of the Ibos wont destroy this hateful tradition of osu, while complaining of being denied their share of the National cake, then that is a display of hypocrisy.

Ndipe, Ndipe, Ndipe, na how many times I call you, ehn?? Dem tell you say dem no sabi destroy their old tradition? Why you come dey find trouble now?

They are not very eager to destroy the tradition o. They need a little push from more enlightened minds.

Ndipe:

If the present day generation of the Ibos wont destroy this hateful tradition of osu, while complaining of being denied their share of the National cake, then that is a display of hypocrisy.

Seun:

They are not very eager to destroy the tradition o. They need a little push from more enlightened minds.

Ndipe & Seun, na God I take beg una, make both of you stop dis kind talk o!

Donzman & Babyosisi said in another thread, that the thing is not widespread & barely common, despite the fact that other Igbo people acknowledged its' existence & prevalence. Now you guys are putting pepper, tomato & 'onions into the equation, with these kind of comments.

I beg you, duck once the brick bats start to fly in your direction o! I don talk my own.

@ Topic

That's a very sad news but you have to know that he is a human like you, all those stone ages were such were highly prohibited is now past so i don't think you should have any problem with the guy provided you love him.

Cheers.

Lawd this "osu" is so bush.  I can't believe 21st century people are still into this non-sense. Unfortunately, if you live in a society that believes in this kind of thing. You may have to think hard.

osu guy lounloun!

in the 21st century na wah ooo

why are there some disturbing similarities between Igbo and Indian cultures( eg this caste thing). Was there some cross cultural exchange in ancient times? or can it be traced to the East ( east/central Africa?).

I guess this is d osu man?which girl will want to miss  a handsome man like this,he is BIG  STRONG  AND  RELAIBLE if this is your man please go ahead and marry him,if not other girls from your place will go for him.

osu my crusty feet!
go right ahead and marry him! Who gives any one the right to tag a freeborn an outcast. make i hear word abeg. you can relocate with your husband and live peacefully in a sane society.

Are the so-called freeborns better than those tagged osu? What makes one a freeborn and another an osu? The Osu caste system is completely outdated. Those who still believe in it are just functional illiterates.

goahead and marry him.wish i wud be able to attend the wedding.wishing you a happy and fulfilled marriage.hope toyinrayo gets to read this too.

hon, toyinrayo read it. i didnt say i believed in osu o. . .thats why i pasted my comment in the other thread.

@post
go and marry him jare, if you love him and he loves you, whats stopping you? Its all up to you

Love is love, but people will always be people. The caste system across Nigeria today is not Osu, but class. If you are from a rich family they will often find it an abomination/disgrace for their son or daughter to marry someone who comes from a poor family. In Nigeria, when someone wants to marry your daughter, the family do an investigation, there are things which may have nothing to do with the individual, but are  in the family history (apart from medical illnesses) which cause parents to withold their permission or blessing for the marraige. All over Nigeria, we have modern day caste systems in Nigeria. People are expected to stay with their own kind and class.

I really don't see much difference, the behaviour is the same when it comes down to marriage.

As far as Christians, there are people who despite love, the church will advise  not to marry, or even  associate with, people who THEY consider to be backsliders or non Christians/unbelievers. Even without believing in Osu, there are bars to marriage based purely on love, but we find ways of justifying it and explaining it away as something else, when really its all the same thing, albeit less devastating.

Thats just my opinion.

londoner:

Love is love, but people will always be people. The caste system across Nigeria today is not Osu, but class. If you are from a rich family they will often find it an abomination/disgrace for their son or daughter to marry someone who comes from a poor family. In Nigeria, when someone wants to marry your daughter, the family do an investigation, there are things which may have nothing to do with the individual, but are in the family history (apart from medical illnesses) which cause parents to withold their permission or blessing for the marraige. All over Nigeria, we have modern day caste systems in Nigeria. People are expected to stay with their own kind and class.

I really don't see much difference, the behaviour is the same when it comes down to marriage.

As far as Christians, there are people who despite love, the church will advise not to marry, or even associate with, people who THEY consider to be backsliders or non Christians/unbelievers. Even without believing in Osu, there are bars to marriage based purely on love, but we find ways of justifying it and explaining it away as something else, when really its all the same thing, albeit less devastating.

Thats just my opinion.

hmmmm you're so right. Osu exits oooo. believe it or not

nnenneigbo:

hmmmm you're so right. Osu exits oooo. believe it or not

in this PRESENT age and timeGod help us all

@nnenneigbo hmmmm you're so right. Osu exits oooo. believe it or not


Nne, are you a christian or pagan? when the trumpet sound now will Jesus ask if you are an Osu or a free born.

I think you should wait!! a bit longer before marrying this guy, because if your love & convictions were strong enough.  after dating him for 3yrs you would not still be Questioning . 

The fact that you are  - means that your love / convictions & commitment to the relationship aren't as strong as they'd need to be - to make a already Questionable marriage ,  successful.  I wish you all the best , but I think you've clearly still got a lot to think about


Don't get married because  you've invested in the relationship - instead get married because it feels right, & you have no further Questions!!!!

To all,the Osu caste system is alive and well in Igbo land in 2008.I thought it was stuff from fiction and it was never discussed in the house I grew up in until someone close to me fell in love with a man.The man she fell in love with was an 'Osu' and she was discouraged by her family and relatives not to go ahead with the man.I was offended by the whole situation because I couldn't imagine such tradtions still being effective in this day and age.They were told that there are things that can be done to remove the 'osu-ness' from the guy so they can marry each other as free borns.For some reason I'm not privy to,they didn't do this.And she refused to dump her guy.Because of this,they couldn't do a traditional wedding because the family and community boycotted the event.They eventually had a wedding in church in another state in a different part of the country.They are still married and as far as I know are happy together.


This tradition is outlawed by the law courts of Nigeria.We can stay on this site and pontificate all we want but until Nigeria changes and our laws become enforceable,people will still be treated like shyt because of what their ancestors did or din't do.My 2 cents.

@Ogejov,if you are really sure you can stand the heat that this will bring your way,hang in there.But remember that it is not only you,all your kids and their kids will face this same heat except our country changes.All are free in Christ-but most of the world doesn't know that and would give you grief for marrying osu and all such silly stuff.I wish you the best.

nnenneigbo:

hmmmm you're so right. Osu[b] exits [/b] oooo. believe it or not

you are right. It EXITED a long time ago! LOL

Jezzy:

[b]To all,the Osu caste system is alive and well in Igbo land in 2008.I thought it was stuff from fiction and it was never discussed in the house I grew up in until someone close to me fell in love with a man.The man she fell in love with was an 'Osu' and she was discouraged by her family and relatives not to go ahead with the man.[/b]I was offended by the whole situation because I couldn't imagine such tradtions still being effective in this day and age.They were told that there are things that can be done to remove the 'osu-ness' from the guy so they can marry each other as free borns.For some reason I'm not privy to,they didn't do this.And she refused to dump her guy.Because of this,they couldn't do a traditional wedding because the family and community boycotted the event.They eventually had a wedding in church in another state in a different part of the country.They are still married and as far as I know are happy together.


This tradition is outlawed by the law courts of Nigeria.We can stay on this site and pontificate all we want but until Nigeria changes and our laws become enforceable,people will still be treated like shyt because of what their ancestors did or din't do.My 2 cents.

@Ogejov,if you are really sure you can stand the heat that this will bring your way,hang in there.But remember that it is not only you,all your kids and their kids will face this same heat except our country changes.All are free in Christ-but most of the world doesn't know that and would give you grief for marrying osu and all such silly stuff.I wish you the best.

Shuo!! na who we go come believe now?? Ehn? Babyosisi a.k.a Nwando said that it was no longer in existence, now you are saying it is still alive and well in 2008. Na wa o!

the osu caste system has come to stay, sadly , it is like terrorism, tribalism, racism, robbery, illicit sex, etc. it may not be wiped out. it can be controlled.

and the situation today is not the same as it was 200-300yrs ago. today, ibos live together is cities and we dont go about asking about peoples status when we want to do business. today, the osu thing is almost not recognised in our lives except in issues like marriage. this is because the ibos are still very conservative about marriage. marriage in iboland is not btw 2 people but btw 2 families and some members of the family will show strong concern about the family they are getting entangled with. this to me is some form of racism (you may not agree with me though)

however, to potray the osus as being disadvantaged is untrue. they do business with others. some have been governors in the eastern states both during military and democratic eras(PDP democrasy). they are professors, doctors, vice chancellors etc and nobody really cares if the pastor is osu or not. it is only in marriage that it is still yet to be wiped.

it is unGodly but pls pls pls do not criminalise the ibos of today for this b/c we were born into this thing and we've done a lot to wipe it but it aint easy. you may say. . . i dont care(and many of us dont) but what happens when your father says no way. . . if you marry this girl i'll die. . . . what do you do? marry the girl and loose your dad? b/c many of dem parents have real heart attack/ stroke etc due to unnecessary worry when their children marry "wrong" partners. your mum(who loved you all ur life) or your wife(who may turn against you in the future) what do you do?

that is why our generation still struggles to remove osu controversy from marriage, until a generation of ibos are born who will have a different marital culture where ibo marriages are entirely btw 2 people. that may take another century or two.

toshmann:

the osu caste system has come to stay, sadly , it is like terrorism, tribalism, racism, robbery, illicit sex, etc. it may not be wiped out. it can be controlled.

and the situation today is not the same as it was 200-300yrs ago. today, ibos live together is cities and we don't go about asking about peoples status when we want to do business. today, the osu thing is almost not recognised in our lives except in issues like marriage. this is because the ibos are still very conservative about marriage. marriage in iboland is not between 2 people but between 2 families and some members of the family will show strong concern about the family they are getting entangled with. this to me is some form of racism (you may not agree with me though)

however, to potray the osus as being disadvantaged is untrue. they do business with others. some have been governors in the eastern states both during military and democratic eras(PDP democrasy). they are professors, doctors, vice chancellors etc and nobody really cares if the pastor is osu or not. it is only in marriage that it is still yet to be wiped.

it is unGodly but please please please do not criminalise the ibos of today for this b/c we were born into this thing and we've done a lot to wipe it but it aint easy. you may say. . . i don't care(and many of us don't) but what happens when your father says no way. . . if you marry this girl i'll die. . . . what do you do? marry the girl and loose your dad? b/c many of them parents have real heart attack/ stroke etc due to unnecessary worry when their children marry "wrong" partners. your mum(who loved you all your life) or your wife(who may turn against you in the future) what do you do?

that is why our generation still struggles to remove osu controversy from marriage, until a generation of ibos are born who will have a different marital culture where ibo marriages are entirely between 2 people. that may take another century or two.

Point of correction. . . .is there any ethnic group in Nigeria, where marriage is not a union between two families? Among the Yoruba, Efik, Annang, Edo, Tiv, Fulani, Hausa, Kanuri, Itsekiri etc. and all the other 200-plus ethnic groups in Nigeria, marriage is still undertaken with the involvement of both families on either side.

Unfortunately, due to the increased adoption of Western influence, most of those who live in the cities are by-passing most of the traditional customs associated with marraige ceremonies in their ethnic group and are opting to do things their own way. It doesn't mean that marriage is still not a union, that involves both families, and not just the couple.

In the north for example, some families actually decide to marry off their daughters with or without the approval of the daughter, in some cases.