The Osu caste system is a tradition in certain parts of the Igbo ethnic group that has its origins from the period preceding the colonial era. Prior to the colonial period that brought about the establishment of Christianity in the Southern parts of Nigeria, the prevalent practice was the African Traditional Religion (ATR). In the pre-colonial Igboland, there existed freeborns, known as Nwadiala, who were regarded as masters and Osu, who were seen as slaves and dedicated to serving the deities of the community. Osu also referred to people that offended the gods and were cast away from the population to prevent the wrath of the deities. The Osu caste system held sway in Imo and Anambra states, and parts of Enugu, Abia, and Ebonyi.
This is a list of Osu Villages in Imo State:
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Azuziahi-Eziudo
A village in Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Umuoma
A village in Onicha town in Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Okpofe
A village in Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Umuawam
A village in Obizi town in Ezinihhite Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Umueluma
A village in Obizi town in Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Amaudi
A village in Obizi town in Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Azuahia
A village in Obizi town in Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Umosisi
A village in Obizi town in Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Obokwu
A village in Obizi town in Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Umuire
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Eziama-Obiato
A village in Mbatoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Nneato Ugwuneze
A village in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Ugwuala
A village in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Umuegbe
A village in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Ikpem
A village in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Idem
A village in Anara community in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Aguna
A village in Anara community in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Umuneke
A village in Anara Community in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Durunaezike
A village in Anara community in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Umuoluwe
A village in Anara community in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Umuehie
A village in Anara community in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Umuagwu
A village in Anara community in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Dialum
A village in Anara community in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Ebeokimma-Dibia
A village in Umuduru town in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Egbe-Owerre
A village in Umuduru town in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Isiebu
A village in Umuduru town in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State
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Ukwuakwu
A village in Umuduru town in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Umuagwunta
A village in Umuduru town in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Umuagwuukwu
A village in Umuduru town in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Umuchioma
A village in Umuduru town in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Umudur
A village in Umuduru town in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Umuduru-Orji
A village in Umuduru town in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Umuduru/Nneji
A village in Umuduru town in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Umueboise
A village in Umuduru town in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Umuegbe
A village in Umuduru town in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Umueke
A village in Umuduru town in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Umuelema
A village in Umuduru town in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Umuezeala
A village in Umuduru town in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Umuezeala-Egbema
A village in Umuduru town in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Umuichie
A village in Umuduru town of Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Umuluwe-Ajirija
A village in Umuduru town of Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Umuogwuma-Umunwaebo
A village in Umuduru town of Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
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Okohia
A village in Osu-Owerre community of Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
Conclusion
This practice of the Osu caste system encouraged prejudice against the Osu. Social associations between the freeborns, which are the Nwadiala, and the Osu were really discouraged. The people categorized as Osu in the pre-colonial Igboland usually lived alienated from the rest of the population. This alienation restricted persons identified as Osu from occupying positions in the community, owning land assets, and other associated barriers.
This practice also restricted the freeborns, that is the Nwadialas, from getting married to an Osu, as there were notions that such union brought about misfortune such as death and sickness. Also, it was thought that the marriage between a freeborn and an Osu contaminated the lineage of the freeborn as such union would make the lineage acquire Osu status. This practice invariably destroyed many proposed marriages between freeborns and the Osu outcast population.
However, the spread of western education and Christianity in the Igbo states that this practice occurs has led to several trials aimed at ending the Osu caste system. In 1956, the Government of Eastern Nigeria made an enactment that abolished the Osu caste system and declared persons regarded as Osu as free, which extends to their offsprings. Unfortunately, there existed a gap in implementation. In contemporary times, traditional rulers, politicians, religious organizations and other associated entities have called for the abolishment of the Osu caste system. Luckily, there have been some recorded positive achievements as marriages between freeborns and Osu now happen, and the reduction in spate of social discriminations against persons regarded as Osu in the Southeastern states where the practice of Osu caste system held sway.