Imo Communities Move to Abolish Caste System in Igboland

Tony Icheku in Owerri

Two autonomous communities in Imo State, namely Amurie Omanze and Oboro Amurie would on January 4, 2024 set the tone for abolition of the caste system in the South-East geo-political zone as it discards the decades old practices which classifies some of the communities as second class citizens

In a statement, the traditional rulers of Amurie Omanze and Oboro Amurie, respectively, Eze C.O Nnajiemere and Eze V.O Ahamefule Durugwoegebu IV stated that on January 4, 2024, the caste systems of Osu, Ume, Ohu and Diala would cease to exist in the two autonomous communities carved out from old Amurie Omanze ancient community in Isu LGA of the State.

The caste system in Igboland came to international attention through Nigerian acclaimed novelist, Chinua Achebe, who depicted the practice in ‘No Longer at Ease’, one of his widely read trilogies. The practice, significantly forbids inter-marriage between the Osu, Ohu, Ume and Diala caste and other members of the community ( where it exists) described as freeborns.

In a related development, the human rights organisations, Pillars of Hope Africa Initiative, (POHAI), G’naira Family Foundation (GFF) and Kemdi Chino Opera Foundation, (KCOF) in their respective reactions applauded the action as a reward for long years of efforts to abolish the caste systems in the South East communities where it exists.

The Executive Director of POHAI, Chinyere Oge-Kalu, said that the abolishment of these caste systems in the two communities was a fruit of years of advocacy by the organisations, and expressed confidence that more communities in Imo State and the entire Igbo land will soon abolish the reprehensible caste systems, which according to her dehumanises fellow compatriots as second class citizens or /outcasts

Eze Nnajiemere and Eze Durugwoegebu IV in their statements explained that the decision to end the caste system was made in agreement with key community leaders, including village heads, kindred union chairmen, town union representatives, religious bodies, clergy, and Diaspora union representatives, all of whom appended their consent to the abrogation document drawn up to draw the curtain on the obnoxious practice.

Eze Nnajiemere, while acknowledging the advocacy by various human rights organisations and community stakeholders, said that the formal abrogation would mark an important milestone in the community’s progress toward a more inclusive and fair society.

“For the past three years, our community has been embroiled in unnecessary conflicts and skirmishes over whether to abolish these discriminatory cultural practices. They are remnants of stone-age practices that are an affront to the 21st-century global social order,” lamented Eze Nnajiemere.

The royal father added that an Abolition Committee, which was constituted three years ago, has been instrumental in driving this change which was arrived at after a comprehensive campaign involving individual and village-to-village consultations.