colour of love by Omeke Prisca
Ada: Eric, you have been avoiding my calls. What is wrong? What is the reason for this sudden development?
Eric: Ada, my darling, I have been very busy. I will come to your house to explain to you. Meanwhile there is no problem.
After two months, Ada kept expecting Eric’s call to no avail. In the fourth month, he came narrating how and why his parents had said NO to their imminent marriage.
Ada is an Osu. Eric, a free born cannot associate with her talk more of marrying her. Painful. right? I guess so.
In igbo land, most parents do not want their son or daughter to marry an Osu.
No Osu equally admits to the fact that he or she is an Osu. I ask, why? Is it that they are not aware? I guess it is the way the society frowns at the sound of the word ‘Osu’ or what do you think?
But for a serious relationship leading to marriage, why would someone hide the truth from the partner? Does it mean that a foundation built on lies is the best?
Personally, I believe that someone who loves you will always love you even if it doesn’t end in marriage. Why the lie and secret?
For the above questions, I had to do some researches. Guess what I found out.
Osu caste system is an ancient practice in south-eastern Nigeria which discourages social interactions and marriage with a group of persons called Osus. Osus are dedicated to deities and considered as inferior beings and are usually separated from Nwadiala, free born. Some said osus are people banished/ostracized from communities for refusing orders of a king or the decisions of the community. They are not allowed to associate with the free born. They are sometimes given a separate seat in the church. They are not allowed to break kola or make prayers on behalf of real born because it is believed to be a calamity. This group, osus, suffer denial of chieftaincy tittle, violent disruption of marriage ceremonies, etc.
I also found out that on 20/03/1956, igbo legislators in the eastern house of assembly, Enugu, abrogated the practice of referring to people as osu. Fines were imposed. This discouraged people from expression of the word, osu.
You can also read a book ‘the secret of nothing’. It addressed this topic in a good way.
Now, if this act has been discouraged, why is it that serious relationship/ intermarriage between the osus and the rest of the community is still forbidden?
From my discussion, I learnt that most of the osus do well in life even in politics. I asked ‘does it mean God promote them more to make sure they feel better about their status?’
Just a question, out of my curiosity.
I believe there is still hope.
Someone (Chikawrites) said he doesn’t care. If a person finds love and that person is of different ‘whatever’ from him or her, it shouldn’t matter because the two of them found love.
Another person agreed to the above statement. But the last person answered “my wife and I are real. She is a free born just like I am. If I love an osu, I can consider her.” There is something about this last guest. He wasn’t real I guess. He was trying to paint words. I do not know why but he stammered when we went deep into the topic.
In the church, the word, osu is preached against. Marriage between an osu and a free born is encouraged. So why does some tradition say otherwise?
Fine, we all have tradition yet we have embraced Christianity, but which one do we place above the other? Like they said, we should not just act or conclude. Sometimes, we should go to our great grandparents for clarifications.
Do we go strictly traditional in taking decisions about marriage?
Is osu really an ancient tradition or what? Should it be one of the criteria for marriage?
Love comes in every colour. It is not the big stink that it used to be. Anyway, I am just a writer. I am neutral. Your comments are needed.
Live right,
Love right,
Marry right.
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