Caste in Africa

Caste discrimination is widespread in parts of Sahelian Africa and particularly amongst certain communities in West Africa, as well as amongst the Somali and Ethiopian populations.

Investigations into the origins of the caste systems in Sahelian Africa suggest that it is possible that caste systems were internally developed in one society, or a small cluster of areas, and then spread through migration.

There are many common features which these systems share with the caste system of South Asia. IDSN is therefore keen to highlight the discrimination faced by many African groups, such as the Haratin of Mauritania and the Osu of Nigeria.