SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., April 22, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Why prejudice? Why discrimination? These thoughts continue to run through the minds of all races facing castigation, oppression and labeled as inferior by those who claim to be superior. In the 1700s to 1800s, the Irish were castigated "savages" by the English who also enslaved them. About the year 385, Saint Patrick was born in Great Britain. He was sold into slavery and forced to rear sheep. For years he was forced to endure hardship until he escaped and entered the seminary to become a priest. He later became a bishop and worked hard at converting the Irish while establishing a church. He died in Down in 461. Stories of this sort exist today.
From the 1600s to the 1900s, the Africans were labeled "savages," "monkeys," and "barbarians" by Europeans hence the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade which depreciated the human and natural resources of Africa for over 300 years.
For over ten years till the year 2005, the people of Darfur region and other parts of the Sudan have continued to face similar conflicts. In India, the Paravans, the "untouchables" are a group of dark skinned Indians who are ostracized, castigated and shunned. They are forced to endure grueling cheap labor, little or no pay, sweat shop labor, inhumane working conditions, child labor with zero benefits.
When such discrimination that casts a shadow beyond color, race, creed and religion continues to pervade the society, one author brings it to the limelight. These thoughts continue to torment the characters of The Shackles of Ohuku Threats, as they continue to live in displaced communities outside their beloved, beautiful hamlet of Ohuku. Ohuku is their place of origin. It is the land of their birth. The Umuode have continued to live for the longest time under a caste system that continues to rob them of their fundamental human rights. This is the subject of a heartbreaking reality exposed by Lynda Ukemenam in the new book, The Shackles of Ohuku Threats. The book explores the anthropology of an ancient institution and the propaganda of empty politics aimed at making the proud people of a rich cultural heritage homeless. It brings to light the violation of human rights embedded in slavery, in labeling a certain group of Ohuku's kith and kin "slaves." It throws more kerosene into the fire of discrimination and societal ostracism in parts of Igboland and Nigeria where the Ohu,Osu, Umuobia culture is a class rift that violates the civil and human rights of the people.
The Shackles of Ohuku Threats focuses on the revolt, war and chaos otherwise known as "ogba ahala" between the Umuode and other family groups who had had enough of the political and social discrimination from their fellow townsmen. The issue was ripping the fabric of the society to shreds. Such injustice impedes the social and economic progress as the children of Umuode family group were forced to stop attending school. Most of the events surrounding the novel are real. The sociological institutions, language, norms and customs of the Ohuku people exist today. The story is told with fictitious characters and names for dramatic effect and to protect the innocent.
The novel's protagonist, Mrs. Oganagu is a humble mother who worked on borrowed land because of her status as "ohu" and also, because she was married to an alcoholic husband. She often labored tirelessly for the nobles who refused to pay her. Putting food on the table for her many children and several adopted ones whose parents died under auspicious circumstances like war, famine, Aids, and the government's political greed becomes an insurmountable task.
In time, her progress led to economic sustenance for the impoverished Ohuku, but some unscrupulous elements who could not bear the thought of a woman, especially an "ohu" doing well in the Oruku community burned her barn. Some members of Umuode groups of families were labeled "debtors" and the nobles started the confiscation of their "bashikolos," their only means of transportation. This event also became complex with the political, evil and greedy machinations of a few men whose vaulting political ambitions demanded the leadership of Ohuku at all costs. Some members of Umuode voluntarily went on exile while others were sent packing. They were by then known as The People From The Other Side. Their demands for an autonomous community as well as secession from Ohuku were presented before the Oputa Panel. The Umuode kith and kin preferred "ochichi" and "nkewa." The homes belonging to Umuode were allegedly burned, and their property and personal assets burned. Voluntary and involuntary exile now took on the form of instant displacement. Up till the present day, a malicious rift exists between the Umuode, and the Umuokenwa, Umuonuogowo and the Umuchiekpeze of the beautiful hamlet of Ohuku.
By citing the Oganagu family as an exemplary family, along with numerous examples of people who live and exist in Ohuku, the author brings to light the untouchable issue of caste system. She hopes the novel will bring peace, love and unity to the real live people of Oruku, her ancestral homeland. "The objective of the faction is to motivate the displaced and runaway refugees among Umuode kinsmen to return home."
"The Shackles of Ohuku Threats" is the sparkling, cool, spring water that will quench the burning fire in many scourged hearts. It is aimed at calling a truce. It is directed towards the abolition of the prejudice of social class and exposing the foolhardiness of the caste system," says Ukemenam who spent years in Oruku, and continues to work for the good of her people. "The Umuode's objective to seize leadership at all costs in order to avenge the ancient custom of burying live humans inside noblemen's graves is nothing short of bitterness and rancor despite their deep-rooted belief in the Christian doctrines of forgiveness and love and peace. The current descendants of the so-called nobles are not culpable for the sins of their forefathers."
About the author
Lynda Ukemenam's literary credits include articles, essays for the New York Amsterdam Newspaper in Harlem, New York, and the essay "African Women and Development" for World Wise International Newspaper in New Hampshire. She wrote editorials and leisure columns for the African News Weekly based in Asheville, North Carolina, and African Profiles International Magazine in New York. Her columns appeared in the Nigeria Abroad Newspaper in New Jersey, the Nigerian News Digest in Asheville, North Carolina.
She is an independent writer currently working on a sequel to The Shackles of Ohuku Threats entitled The Avalanche of Ohuku Shackles. Her other books include Taking A Bath?, a non-fiction text on circumcision and female genital mutilation. A fiction text entitled: The Silver Screen. Her poems entitled "The Third World," "Grasshoppers Invade New Territory," and "Somalia" were published in the Maryland Review. Her alma mater was the College of Journalism, Fleet Street District, London, England.
The Shackles of Ohuku Threats by Lynda Ukemenam
Publication date: March 18, 2005
Trade Paperback; $21.99; 295 pages; 1-4134-5095-4
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