Oguta Community Abolishes Age-Long Out-Caste System in Historic Move

In a landmark decision that has drawn praise across Imo State, traditional leaders in Oguta Local Government Area have officially abolished the centuries-old out-caste system, known locally as the Ohu practice.

The historic event took place on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at the Oguta Civic Centre, where elders, chiefs, youths, and women gathered to witness the public declaration that ended the discriminatory tradition.

The Ohu system, which had existed for generations, divided the community along ancestral lines, with certain families historically regarded as inferior and restricted from intermarrying or holding traditional titles.

Speaking during the ceremony, the traditional ruler of Oguta, His Royal Highness Eze Nze Chike Nwokorie, described the move as “a new dawn of unity and equality” for the people.

“This decision marks the beginning of true peace and reconciliation in Oguta.” 

“No one will again be identified or discriminated against because of ancestry,” he said.

Community leaders emphasized that the abolition was not just symbolic but binding, warning that any attempt to revive or enforce the practice would attract severe sanctions.

Women and youth groups expressed joy over the development, saying it would promote love, social harmony, and freedom of association in the area.

A representative of the Imo State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, who attended the event, hailed the community’s courage, describing Oguta’s action as “an example for other communities still tied to outdated customs.”

The ceremony ended with prayers, traditional dances, and the breaking of kola nuts, symbolizing unity, equality, and the start of a new chapter for the people of Oguta.