On October 21-22 the Nigerian Humanists organised a national conference on Osu caste system and untouchability. The conference, held at Imo State University in Southern Nigeria, attracted over a hundred participants from Nigeria and overseas. The conference commenced with a march from the city centre to the university. Around 15 persons walked through the town carrying banners bearing anti caste slogans and inscriptions like ‘Stop caste discrimination’, ‘Osu caste system is evil’ and singing songs in praise of Humanism and freedom. The event received goodwill messages from the UN, the Commonwealth, Amnesty International, International Dalit Solidarity Network, and Humanist groups and freethought leaders around the world. The governor of Imo State was represented at the event by the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Chief Johnson Okafor. In his address, Chief Okafor reiterated the commitment of the state government to eradicating caste discrimination and upholding the human rights of all individuals in the state. He commended the Nigerian Humanist Movement (NHM) for organising the program and urged all NGOs and civil society groups to join hands in tackling this social menace.

Speaking at the event, NHM Chair, Eze Dr Enyeribe Onuoha blamed the church for the continued observance of the Osu custom. The Igbos in Nigeria are predominantly Christian, and South East Nigeria constitutes the nation’s Bible belt. According to Dr Onuoha, church leaders have failed to tackle caste prejudice head on and the Christian faithful have refused to abandon a practice based on traditional religion, not Christianity. In my speech, I noted that caste discrimination was a stain on Igbo culture, conscience and civilization. The Osu caste discrimination was an indictment of the claim by Igbos to common humanity and universal brotherhood.

I expressed the readiness of the NHM to bring this human rights issue to the attention of the international community. I told the participants about the global conference on untouchability to be held in London next year and asked them to submit abstracts and consider attending the event. Prof Jol Ezeala gave a keynote presentation titled The Osu Caste System of the Igbo in Nigeria; A Bizarre Religious and Human Rights Desecration. He argued that the Osu tradition is the greatest human rights violation which the church and its clergy had allowed to destroy Igbo civilization and culture. He urged all Igbos to rise up to the task of combating Osu discrimination.

Many Osu victims were at the conference and told the attendees about their plight, humiliation, violent experiences, and abuse which they have suffered over the years. Chief Christopher Ezeh from Orodo in Imo State told participants how his community was attacked some years ago by freeborns. They burnt their houses and market. According to him the attack happened after a ‘freeborn’ called another member of the community Osu and this fellow went and mobilised some youth who took the freeborn to the local shrine and dedicated him to a god- a ritual process that is believed to have made him an Osu. Mr Alexander Nze from Amakohia told us how some members in his community mobilised other people and knocked down his building that was under construction because they said he married an Osu. Freeborn communities go to any length to prevent Osu persons from building on their land. They regard it as a form of contamination or defilement of their land!

But the experience of Amaka Uchendu’s family was more traumatising. She narrated how the people in her community refused to have their father buried at home . Instead the father was buried in a forest. Due to caste discrimination Amaka’s family has moved from one religious denomination to another but still the caste prejudice persists. Eugene Ogbuji told participants the challenges he faced when he wanted to marry. Freeborn parents go to any length to stop their children from marrying an Osu. Ogbuji said when he decided to get married to his freeborn wife the parents opposed the decision, and boycotted the marriage. But in spite of threats, intimidation and discouragement, they eventually got married and are living happily together today. There were presentations on caste discrimination in non Igbo societies. Jimkelly Abegbe discussed caste discrimination in Edo state. I read a paper sent by Babu Gogineni on Untouchability in India. Many speakers asked caste victims to stop living in denial and to accept the reality of caste discrimination in order to tackle and eradicate it. Both Prof Kolawole Ogundowole of the University of Lagos and Barrister Chidi Chimah in their presentations asked all Osu people to come out and fight for their rights, and embrace the struggle for justice, equality, dignity and freedom in the society. The caste tradition is inspired and sustained by myths, misconceptions and superstitions. And Dr Jide Akeredolu, in his Humanist Day lecture, stressed the importance of critical thinking in building a free, just, progressive, civilised and enlightened society.

Caste discrimination is a deep seated cultural practice and requires intensive public education, sensitisation and enlightenment. Some people are saying that the practice should be left to die a natural death. During the conference I received a text message saying that silence was the best way to tackle this obnoxious custom. That holding conferences would end up reinforcing the caste prejudice and stereotype. But the fact is that for centuries caste victims in Nigeria have been silent over the discrimination and dehumanization they suffer. Still this pernicious tradition continues to wax strong. This cultural sore has continued to fester and darken the society. So this national conference was an important opportunity for caste victims and people of good conscience to break the silence-and break the taboo- and bring this human rights issue to the public sphere.

News about the conference was carried by both print and electronic media. The conference theme, ‘Osu caste system and untouchability’ was the theme of Radio Nigeria Heartland FM’s Issues of the Moment on October 16 2008. A news commentary on The Need to stop Caste Discrimination in Igboland was broadcast by FM in English and Igbo on the first day of the conference.

Leo Igwe is IHEU Representative in West Africa