My Wife-To-Be Is An "Osu"

The most interesting part of the story is that the so called OSU people tend to be beautiful and handsome, intelligent and prosperous withing themselves which attract the non Osu to marry them.

I thought we're in 2008.

                  OR
Is it 208BC?

lol

actually, based on your topic and for other members asking what  osu means and who an osu is.here comes the explanation.
                  IN IGBO LAND IN THE OLDEN DAYS, DURING WAR OR CLASHES BE IT INTER VILLAGE OR PURELY OUTSIDE ATTACK,THE VILLAGERS OFTEN RUN FOR HELP OR STAY TO FIGHT. WELL IN THE CASE OF THE ONES THAT ARE REALLY AFRAID AND can't EVEN FIGHT OR RUN, THEY ENTER THE SHRINE OF A DIETY OR A GOD AND PLEDGE TO SERVE THE GOD OR DEITY IF ONLY IT WILL PROTECT THEM FROM THE ATTACK. THE RESULT IS ALWAYS POSITIVE IN THE SENSE THAT THE SO CALLED DEITY OR GOD PROTECTS THEM FROM THE WARRING SITUATION.
           IN ANY CASE WHEN THE WAR IS OVER, THE FAMILY OR GROUPS OF PEOPLE  WHO RAN INTO THE DIETY'S SHRINE ARE REFERRED TO AS THE OSUS BY OTHER VILLAGERS OR GROUPS WHO FOUGHT THE WAR AND LOST LOVED ONES.
        MEANWHILE, THE PROTECTED ONED REDEEM THEIR PLEDGE BY SERVING THE DIETY AND SO WHEN CHRISTIANITY CAME, THEY WERE REGARDED AS THE OSUS(OUTCASTS) NOT TO BE MARRIED BY THE FREE BORNS.

  NOW MY SUGGESTION IS THIS,I BELIEVE WE ARE  ALL XTIANS NOW AND UR BROS BEING AB ADULT ABOUT TO START A FAMILY OF HIS OWN SHOULD BE IN A B ETTER POSITION TO KNOW WHAT TO DO DEPENDING ON HIS BELIEFS AS A Christian.
       SO THE BALL IS ENTIRELY IN HIS COURT.

The caste system is quite prevalent in India for example, where the lowest castes may not marry other castes. With regards to Igbo land, the OSU system has been mostly outlawed in most parts especially with the advent of Christianity.

However, what I find is that even these places that have outlawed this practice, OSUs from other parts are not welcome. This is because people want to avoid the stigma associated with being married to an OSU

In as much as Osu cast system has been outlawed years ago, it is still being discriminated against. I must tell you that 90% of Igbo couples who got married in Igbo land have had the families of their would be partners investigated with or without their consent. A good % of these are xtains, so we sometimes wonder where their faith lies!!
The fear of being called an Osu and having your children discriminated against as 'Osus', is the driving force behind the pre-marital investigation. It is easier for the ladies since they're married into another family 'maybe a free born' but for the guys, its kind of difficult getting a lady who is ready to accept you (ur family).
My dear, it takes love and the grace of God to overcome these challenges and this should be your brother's driving force.  I have lady friends who are Osus and i must tell you that it's very hard on them. They grow up having it in their minds never to date Igbo guys so as not to be uncovered as Osus. In as much as we frown at this ungodly system, i must tell you that the cast system is still very much practised in the Igbo land.

Wow, can't believe things like this still exist it is purely discrimination. If I were you I would still marry the so-called Osu, afterall you are Christian and don't believe in all the condemnation and death stuff.

If you need to appease your family though, apparently there is a reversal ritual to make the person no longer Osu. I don't know what it is unfortunately and even tried search google, you may need to buy a JSTO book to find out more.

Quote from "http://www.kwenu.com/publications/maduabum/osu_system.htm"



Good luck, but remember you can always migrate to an area that tolerates you (within Nigeria or abroad) and this discrimination has to stop somewhere so you can be one of those people to break out of this bondage. Someday I am sure this will be a thing of history, it just may not be in you lifetime, but you won't be the first person to marry an Osu for love. In fact, there is no need for this label, you are marrying your love. If you leave this girl for someone else, you may marry a wicked person, good people are hard to find, so forget labels put on her what do you see in her?

IF YOU ARE VERY TRADITIONAL THEN THERE'S NO NEED TO GO AHEAD WITH THE MARRIAGE. IF YOU ARE MORE WESTERNIZED THAN THE AVERAGE NIGERIAN MAN THEN THERE'S NO NEED DISCUSSING THIS ANY FURTHER.

did you not think it was going to be a problem before you even developed a proper relationship with her in the first place??

lie on the bed you have made yourself!!!!!

osu's are not bad people neither are they any less than the nest person. Simple!!

na nonsense now.in this day and age.if u love d girl no jupiter can seprate u.

So many people are saying this is 2008 and so on, but forgetting the crucial thing, we are Nigerians for Christ sake!!!! a country where religion is the sole decider of things.

Why do we still have shrines in Yorubaland and Hausaland or in everyother part of Nigeria? Some one said that the Igbos are the most primitive people in Africa because of caste system! that reeks of ignorance. caste system is all over the world yes i said all over the world including your darling Europe, do you know about "Gypsies"? they are treated worst than blacks in Europe

but if anybody wants to learn more about this then check this wiki link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste_system


But i am not supporting it and it should be abolished world wide completely, it was abolished in my home town about 15 years ago with a get together dance and merry making to mark it

my friend  , @poster, Osu is a state of mind, those refered to as such are no different in any way from any other human being,they have all the dignity and qualities including freedom as enshrined under the Nigerian constitution, it is only in the mind of those who are Backwards mentaly, PRIMITIVITY AT ITS HIGHEST Level! However Parental consent is always important in weddings, for many obvious and some not so obvious reasons, whether you are a strong Christian or not, Ist a delicate situation!! I sympathise with you.

Chy4luv,

It is regrettable that in this day and age we are still bound by obnoxious traditions and as christians we need to overcome such indecencies, however we must accept that the Osu discrimination does exist. It is a very serious issue if you are Ibo. When an Ibo person wants to get married, such enquiries are standard. Family members will always enquire about the other family. Now you have to really consider whether you want to alienate your family - you see such decisions usually come at a price. If you live in the east your children will be discriminated against-if you live abroad, well you may be able to weather it, but once you return one day someone will say something-how will you react? Africans have a way of recording history and you'll be surprised that the stigma will remain with your descendants. Personally I would've tried enquiring before the r/ship gets too serious, not because I support it but because I know the issue will definitely arise, and it is something I would rather avoid or at least prepare myself mentally for the strife. Your brother found out at a late stage and doesn't seem to have a problem with it and I think you should support him, but he does need to know the social implications. Supposing if he goes ahead and his wife is not as strong as him, can't cope with the stigma and leaves? Then what, ? They need to discuss this and if the love is strong well,


If he couldn't care less about what his people will say then he should go ahead. If he is not into community life then no problem. He shouldn't expect to take any 'meaningful' titles or break cola at family affairs etc. In fact he must be prepared to be ostracised.

The decision is his.

Now Romeo, let me ask this question,: If an outsider (Ibo) wants to marry from your town and after the enquiries they find that the person from your town 'used to be osu but now it no longer exists', do you think that the matter will just die like that? The problem extends beyond your town. I do support you that it is crap and should be abolished, but it is not to be trivialised. It can cause a married couple a lot of disharmony and should be considered extensively. As Africans, we are deeply traditional, irrespective of our Christian beliefs-that is a
fact.

Chy4luv, I feel for your bro, but right now he needs all the support you can give him.

tell your brother that the ball is right in his court,  he's old enough to choose between life and death.
for his folks to have adviced him to stay away from the osu  girl , they must have seen  a lot
about  an osu and not osu marital status.

@oziomatv - lol. I have been around, maybe not so much on the debate issues though. I will be doing nysc this march (hopefully)! 


@romeo- ok, well maybe you can tell this guys bro so they can migrate there! I would loved to have known where in Enugu, but I respect your ned for privacy. If only evey city can have rich influential people do such. If I was rich I think I would say, I can develop this land, hospital, school, water etc but on condition you abolish this osu caste thing MENTALLY!

Nnamdi Aziwe abolished this thing in the east ages ago so it is actually illegal but unfotunately people pay no attention thats why the fact your town decided to formally celebrate it being abolished MENTALLY alos was so important. Those leaders (who did this in ur town) should write a book or something to show others how to do it. I feel bad for those classed as Osu. 

I've heard the ibos talk about Osu but most of them always maintain it's a dead culture because of christianity. I wonder how true is this because i want to get grounds to fight back my ibo friends when they yab me with the yorubas and their massive involvement with  the ogboni  society even in this born again era.

Big thumbs to revive.