BY

LEO IGWE

Humanism is a way of thinking and living that focuses on humanity, human rights and dignity. Humanists believe that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”; that humans “are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood”(and sisterhood). Humanists believe that all individuals are entitled ‘to equal rights and freedoms without distinction, of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.’ Unfortunately, this is not practically the case. The world is plagued by so much inequality, injustice and division

Today, millions of people are victims of caste discrimination and untouchability worldwide. They suffer and endure various forms of indignity, inhuman and degrading treatment

In October, humanists and human rights activists will be gathering at Imo State University to explore ways of combating and eliminating this social disease. Both caste discrimination and untouchability are closely related. Those who are discriminated against on the basis of caste are treated as untouchables, that is, those who are socially dirty and capable of defiling others.

The aim of this conference is to draw the attention of the government, the local and international communities to the continued practice and observance of this primitive, obnoxious and degrading custom. It aims at identifying contemporary manifestations of caste discrimination, and concrete measures and initiatives of combating and eliminating these manifestations. The meeting will highlight several human right abuses that are still committed against individuals and groups in the name of caste distinction or untouchability. The conference will provide a platform to debate, explain and debunk several myths, misconceptions and superstitions that underlie the caste mentality. Participants at this meeting will assess the effectiveness of the measures taken so far to tackle caste discrimination in communities and countries around the world.

The event will provide forum to lobby governments, traditional rulers and other stakeholders on our culture to do more to eradicate this harmful tradition.

The conference will identify and share best practices achieved in the fight against caste division and discrimination around the globe. It will proffer ideas and suggestions on how to eventually stamp out this cultural anachronism from the face of the planet.

Caste discrimination prevails in Nigeria especially among the Igbos in the South-east where the osu caste system holds sway. Some forms of caste discrimination exist in Edo State, and in Northern Nigeria . But the Osu discrimination in Igboland is the most pronounced and most virulent form of caste discrimination in Nigeria.

According to the Osu tradition, human beings in Igbo cosmology are divided into two – the Diala and the Osu – the free borns and the slaves.

The Osu are treated as inferior sub-human beings with limited rights and privileges. While the Diala who are said to be the masters, ‘the sons of the soil’ and are accorded their full rights and dignity. Traditionally, the Osu are not allowed to relate or interact intimately with free borns. The Osu people are not free to reside anywhere in the community. In most cases they live near the market places or in a separate part of the community sometimes with very derogatory names. As untouchables, Osu people -and their descendants- are said to be socially and culturally unclean. To touch or interact with them is to contaminate oneself. To marry them is to bring shame and misfortune to one’s family. It was Chinua Achebe, in his book, No Longer at Ease, who brought out vividly and poignantly the pain, shame, dilemma, tension, confusion and agony that go with marriage plans between osu and non-osu in Igboland.

But the Osu problem has not been left unaddressed. There have been attempts to eliminate it. In the 50s, the government of the former Eastern Nigeria passed a legislation abolishing Osu Caste System. But unfortunately, this legislation was never enforced. Hence Osu discrimination has continued to be observed. Caste prejudice, division and hatred are still very much alive in Igbo communities. And one area, where caste hatred has been manifesting, hurting and hampering the social evolution, progress, harmony and renewal is marriage.

Today, in Igbo communities, free born families go to any length to stop, thwart and frustrate any marry plan by their child with an Osu.

Right now a friend of mine who lives in Lagos is in a dilemma over his wedding. He wants to marry a lady he loves and has dated for so many years. But the plan is suffering because his family members found out that the lady was an Osu and have tactfully backed out. Another case is that of two lovers who had fixed a day for their traditional wedding. But before the date, the guy found out that the woman he planned to marry was an Osu.

Do you know what the guy did? He did not show up on the day of traditional wedding. A young man from Imo State told me that he impregnated the girl friend. And when the parents of the girl found out that he was an Osu. They sold the child. He does not know the where about of his child till date. Some parents go to the extent of forcing their daughters to abort an Osu pregnancy or even kill the child after delivery.

Even in the US , caste discrimination is very much alive among Igbos living there. I read about the story of a guy who met and married the wife in the US But later his family found out that the wife was an Osu. And they forced him to divorce her. Currently there is another case in Oguta in Imo State . This woman, from an Osu family is married to non-Osu husband. And some months ago, the husband died and now the family members are threatening to send her back. Many women from Osu communities married to the so-called freeborns find themselves in the same predicament. They are sent packing with their children after the death of their husbands. These are just few instances of the trauma, torture, pain, agony, indignity, maltreatment and violence Osu people suffer and are subjected to across Igboland. Unfortunately this vicious tradition has refused to go away in spite of the advent and influence of modern education and Christianity.

Caste discrimination is evil and immoral. It corrupts family life and social values. Caste prejudice constitutes one of the greatest obstacles to the realization and enjoyment of universal human rights and universal humanism in this 21st century.