Nigeria’s traditional Osu slavery practice was stopped, but the suffering continues

Dr Michael Odijie (UCL History) explains the legacy of the Osu practice of modern slavery in west Africa and the discrimination and social exclusion still faced by the descendants of past Osu today. There are global efforts to fight modern slavery, but a few traditional systems still hold strong in west Africa. These include Osu, Ohu and Trokosi. The Conversation Africa's Godfred Akoto Boafo spoke to Michael Odijie who has  researched  one of the systems - Osu - and what can be done to finally put a stop to it. What is Osu?.  is a traditional practice in the  Igbo region , in south-eastern Nigeria. In the past, Osu involved dedicating individuals to local deities, "transforming" them into slaves of the gods.
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