CHAPTER ONE
1.0BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
1.1INTRODUCTION
In the Igbo society, there exist the slaves and the freeborns. These slaves are seen as outcasts and are called Osu while the freeborns are called dialas. This inferiority and superiority arrangement has generated conflicts. We live in a society where Osu is considered unclean and should be avoided at all costs. Even though the Osu caste system is condemned by many, the attitude still lingers in the heart of the people. This is reflected in the people’s relationship to the Osu’s in the areas of business, politics and social undertakings. This study investigates the phenomenon of Osu in the light of the teaching of the Christian religion which is dominant in the area.
1.2AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
Basically, the aims and objectives of this study are:
To shed light on the Osu caste system in the contemporary Igbo society.
To investigate the myriads of taboos that surrounds an Osu.
To examine the social economic, political and religious impact of Osu caste system in Igbo land.
To proffer solutions to the challenges of the Osu caste system.
To see if the Osu belief has basis in the Christian scriptures.
1.3CLARIFICATION OF TERMS
Osu: Victor C. Uchendu defined Osu as a cult slave, a slave who has been dedicated to the services of the dedicator’s deity, whose descendants are also Osu, be the dedicator, an individual, extended family or lineage.1
Caste: The Collins Cobuild Advanced Dictionary of English defines caste as “one of the traditional social classes into which people are divided in a society.2
Freeborn: The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English defines freeborn as “one not born as a slave”.3
Stigma: The Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary defines stigma as “a mark of disgrace”.4