Black Peni5: The culture and tradition of every society does not only tell the story of their past, but is also an indication of how well that society will develop in the future.

Everything we hold dear today as "tradition" started with a ruler many hundred years ago. Most of these rulers made these laws based on the society of that time.

A lot has changed but we still hang on to some old primitive traditions such as the "Osu" syndrome which classifies human beings as outcasts.

I find it appalling that this tradition is still being religiously upheld in the Eastern Part of this country (I wonder if it exists anywhere else). Unfortunately most people who discriminate call themselves Christians and all what not.

I am not an Osu...besides I don't even come from that part of the world. But I think it is a Stvpid Tradition.

Black Peni5: The culture and tradition of every society does not only tell the story of their past, but is also an indication of how well that society will develop in the future.

Everything we hold dear today as "tradition" started with a ruler many hundred years ago. Most of these rulers made these laws based on the society of that time.

A lot has changed but we still hang on to some old primitive traditions such as the "Osu" syndrome which classifies human beings as outcasts.

I find it appalling that this tradition is still being religiously upheld in the Eastern Part of this country (I wonder if it exists anywhere else). Unfortunately most people who discriminate call themselves Christians and all what not.

I am not an Osu...besides I don't even come from that part of the world. But I think it is a Stvpid Tradition.

ammyluv2002: Ignorance is a disease

presher: OSU CASTE SYSTEM HAVE BEEN ABOLISH READ THE HISTORY OF OSU CASTE SYSTEM AND STOP BEING MISCHIEVOUS

Black Peni5:

To Hell with the Abolishment of the Caste system...I'm talking about what happens in the streets, the communities. Your communities.

The annoying thing is that it happened even in the Church. A man was denied his burial rights simply because he is "Osu" in their own words.

If you are not aware, just keep quiet...

If you have doubts just search comments made by people on this forum over this same issue...Very disturbing.

iterator25: I think you've been reading too much 'village' novels

iterator25: I think you've been reading too much 'village' novels

Mynd_44:
Unfortunately he is not.....we even had a debate on it in romance some months back

https://www.nairaland.com/1330424/u-marry-osu

iterator25: Don't you get it, d shiit ain't in existence anymore ..Op has issues

Mynd_44:
If you go through that thread, you'd see where people say they would not marry an osu. You would see where people although say they don't discriminate, it is real where they are from.

Answer this question honestly, hell, don't even answer: would someone who is classified an "osu" be allowed to take up an elective office in the village he is from? Can he vie for local government chairmanship or governor?

iterator25: smh.. some peeps still hung onto primitive thingz.. anyways, Goodluck to you

Dibiachukwu: I never heard of anything called Osu until I started watching movies.

Afam4eva:

No be only you oo...I have never seen an osu in my life or even heard where they've been discriminated against before. I know it exists but in very minute capacity. I think it's exaggerated.

Freewilly: I'll rather be an osu any day than have those dreadful marks on my face. We are a nation of different cultures no one culture is better or more dreadful than the other. Osu was practiced in the Eastern part of Nigeria, but it's long abolished just like the calaba's used to kill twins years ago and was also abolished I'm sure the OP knows all this but just wants to act stu pit.

iterator25: Don't you get it, d shiit ain't in existence anymore ..Op has issues

Afam4eva:

No be only you oo...I have never seen an osu in my life or even heard where they've been discriminated against before. I know it exists but in very minute capacity. I think it's exaggerated.

Black Peni5: The culture and tradition of every society does not only tell the story of their past, but is also an indication of how well that society will develop in the future.

Everything we hold dear today as "tradition" started with a ruler many hundred years ago. Most of these rulers made these laws based on the society of that time.

A lot has changed but we still hang on to some old primitive traditions such as the "Osu" syndrome which classifies human beings as outcasts.

I find it appalling that this tradition is still being religiously upheld in the Eastern Part of this country (I wonder if it exists anywhere else). Unfortunately most people who discriminate call themselves Christians and all what not.

I am not an Osu...besides I don't even come from that part of the world. But I think it is a Stvpid Tradition.

macof:

That's because u live outside igboland

tawa89: Bigfrancis don't you know that Nairaland is full of people who have absolutely no idea of what they are talking about. I don't even have the energy to pen a well articulated rebuttal. Op get your facts right there no Osus in igboland, maybe 200yrs ago but not today. Believing that Osu is still in existence is like believing that Yoruba Kings still feast on human heart during their coronation .

tawa89: Bigfrancis don't you know that Nairaland is full of people who have absolutely no idea of what they are talking about. I don't even have the energy to pen a well articulated rebuttal. Op get your facts right there no Osus in igboland, maybe 200yrs ago but not today. Believing that Osu is still in existence is like believing that Yoruba Kings still feast on human heart during their coronation .

macof:

Never happened. Could u post a link on this?

Tradition says that in the early times while the King -elect
is in the Otun'efa's house among other dishes brought to
him to partake of is one prepared from the heart of the late King
which has been extracted and preserved. After partaking of
this he is told he has " eaten the King." Hence the origin of the
word Je Oba, to become a King (ht. to eat a King).

Radoillo:

Samuel Johnson's "History of the Yorubas". Footnote on page 43:



But no one is suggesting it still happens today.

As tradition has it, a King only becomes a King after eating another King; referred to as joba where one eats the heart of the King of which they are succeeding, prior to the candidate being permitted to rule. Yes, this custom does indeed continue for worthy and qualified candidates in Yorubaland, North America and the Diasporas.

“It is in eating the heart and thus entering into direct contact with his predecessor that he actually becomes king. The Yoruba word "to become a king" (je oba).”

“When the Alake or king of Abeokuta in West Africa dies, the principal men decapitate his body, and placing the head in a large earthen vessel deliver it to the new sovereign; it becomes his fetish and he is bound to pay it honours. Sometimes, in order apparently that the new sovereign may inherit more surely the magical and other virtues of the royal line, he is required to eat a piece of his dead predecessor. Thus at Abeokuta not only was the head of the late king presented to his successor, but the tongue was cut out and given him to eat. Hence, when the natives wish to signify that the sovereign reigns, they say, “He has eaten the king.” A custom of the same sort is still practised at Ibadan, a large town in the interior of Lagos, West Africa. When the king dies his head is cut off and sent to his nominal suzerain, the Alafin of Oyo, the paramount king of Yoruba land; but his heart is eaten by his successor. This ceremony was performed not very many years ago at the accession of a new king of Ibadan.”