Caste system in Africa

Countries in Africa who have societies with caste systems within their borders include Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Niger, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Algeria, Nigeria, Chad, Ethiopia, and Somalia.

The Osu caste system in Nigeria and southern Cameroon, can be traced back to an indigenous religious belief system, practiced within the Igbo nation. It is the belief of many Igbo traditionalists that the Osus are people historically owned by deities, and are therefore considered to be a 'living sacrifice', an outcaste, untouchable and sub-human (similar to the Roman practice of "homo sacer"); this system received literary attention when it became a key plot point in "No Longer At Ease" by Chinua Achebe.

Caste systems in Somali outcaste Midgan-Madhiban, Yibir, Tumal and other groups deemed to be impure. The outcaste clans do not descend from the Arabic-origin ancestors of the political powerful noble caste, such as the Darood, Hawiye and Isaak clans, and are traditionally forbidden to socialize with others in Somali society, have no access to public wells and other water sources, cannot own land and are not allowed to live in villages.

Among the Mande societies in Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, and Ghana people are divided by occupation and ethnic ties. The highest hierarchy in the Mande caste system, the Horon (nobles/freeborn), are traditionally farmers, fisherman, warriors and animal breeders, the lowest caste are the Jonow, a "slave" caste, made up of people whose ancestors were enslaved by other Africans during tribal wars. An important feature of this system are castes based on trade, such as blacksmiths and griots.

The Wolof hierarchical caste system in Senegal is divided into three main groups, the Geer (freeborn/nobles), jaam (slaves and slave descendants) and the outcasted neeno (people of caste). In various parts of West Africa, Fula(ni) societies also have caste divisions; in Mali, non-noble/freeborn people (those not technically "Fulɓe") are called "yimɓe pulaaku" (people in the Fula culture).

The caste system found amongst the Borana in North Eastern Kenya is divided into two castes. The Boran Gutu (people of the hair tail) and Wattas--a traditional hunter-gatherer caste, being the last. The Watta are condemned to life-long servitude for members of the higher castes. Gabras are quite distinct from the Boran Gutu and have no historical, ethnic or cultural relationships with the Boran Gutu as often incorrectly suggested by biased and uninformed authors. They have a different and a unique social, political and religious identity (believe in Yahwey) and possess sophisticated lunar calendar unlike the Boran Gutu. In deed, Gabbras have a rich cultural and religious identity with striking similarity to the Jewish and Arabic culture. Closer to the Somalis and other people of the Camel or sisal huts, Gabbras belong to the larger Somali Cushitic group and dispersed over Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia and believed to have links with other nomadic groups in northern Sudan, Chad and the Sahel. Gabbras are unrelated to the Boran Gutu and Oromos. In fact, among the Gabbra it is unholy for a Gabra to marry a Boran as doing so impures the Gabra race (but it not uncommon for Boran Gutu men to cherish marrying Gabbra women and many have held senior leadership position in their society--considered a source of strength). Among the Tuareg societies found in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, exists a similar caste system, where the Bellah slave caste is treated as slaves to other castes.

In Rwanda, Burundi and eastern Congo it is known as "ubuhake". The Tutsi, who comprise about 15% of the population of these areas, were the ruling, Cattle-owning caste - corresponding to the "Kshatriyas" in the Vedic system. Below them were the Hutu, the farmers - corresponding with the Vedic "Sudras"; about 80% of the population. Fewer than 3% of the population are Twa or Pygmies, who occupy a position similar to that of 'tribals' in the Indian system.

During the German suzerainty over Rwanda and Burundi, the authorities reinforced the system by employing Tutsis in hegemonic roles. The Belgian colonialists who succeeded them after World War I continued this policy, instituting 'ethnic' identity cards. They also incorporated subsidiary populations, such as the Hima and the Baganwa, into the Tutsi.

After independence, tensions intensified. In 1972, Tutsis were responsible for a wholesale massacre of Hutus. In the 1990s, Hutus responded with counter-massacres.

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External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6168807.stm Marrying across Somalia's caste lines]