Igbo Jews

Here is a link on wikipedia about this subject, I hope there are many more http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igbo_Jews


The Igbo, the third largest ethnic group in Nigeria, believe that they are descendants of Jews who had migrated to western Africa over many centuries. The population came south into sub-Saharan Africa and west across North Africa, possibly following the path of the Arab conquests. Some Nigerian Jews hold that families amongst the community are descendants of Kohanim and Levites, the Jewish priests and their assistants who functioned in the Temple of Jerusalem. Descendants could also have arisen from migrants from Djerba, Tunisia who had fled to North Africa after the destruction of the 1st and 2nd Temples in Jerusalem. The Jewish community is said to be comprised almost entirely by descendants of Kohens.

Several Israelite/Jewish tribes settled in Western Africa during the glorious days of the Songhai, Mali and Ghana empires. As the early Jews were mainly traders, it is quite likely that Jewish traders made the trek across the African continent and eventually settled in various places of West Africa, just as Jewish traders had settled in Kaifeng, China due to their activity in trade along the Silk Road. Some sources have explained that a Jewish presence was present in Nigeria as early as 638 BCE. The Igbos are not the only group that claims such a heritage; the Sefwi people of Ghana, too, believe they are descendants of Jews that made their way to West Africa.

The Islamic ruling parties took power in West Africa from the 1300's to 1400's. Al-Maghili was responsible for the death of members Sahara and savanna Jewry. in 1492 the Jewish enclaves in the Tuat, Mali were destroyed. Western Sudan and Songhai banished Jews from the empire's cities. [3]In Mali, there had been a documented community for quite some time until all Jewish families converted to Islam and until today there remains a Jewish Culture Society in Mali where those descendants of Jews seek to explore their culture and heritage.

Perhaps the Jews of Nigeria suffered the same fate and with the arrival of Islam were either forced to leave the territory or submit to the Islamic domination. It is believed that Judaism first came to the region many centuries ago, as many as 1500 years by traders, a profession that Jews during that time were prolific at. The Igbo Jews traditionally claim descent from three particular Israelite tribes: Gad, Zevulun, and Menashe. The Jews of Manipur and Mizoram, the Bnei Menashe, also claim descent from the tribe of Menashe. It is thought that these Jews fled to Africa after the destruction of the biblical Temples in Jerusalem and established communities all across the African continent.

Israel has, to date, not recognized the Igbo as one of the Lost Tribes of Israel. It took many years before the Chief Rabbinate recognized the Bnei Menashe as Jews, and it is thought that in due time the Igbo will also be recognized as descendants of Israel. One of the theories as to why Israel is reluctant to recognize the Igbo is because it has enjoyed good relations with Nigeria, and as the Igbo are a secessionist tribe, recognizing them as part of Israel may injure political and economic ties between the two countries. In 1967, Israel covertly transferred arms captured during the 1967 Six-Day War to Biafra, to help the Igbos liberate themselves and officially declare independence from Nigeria. This Igbo effort culminated in the Biafra War, led by Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

924,


Thank you. It's interesting to me because this is like the third line of anscestry that I have looked up that has led to a possible Jewish relative.

From what I have learned, The Igbo Jews migrated to that part of Africa because of the atrocity's in Israel -- when Israel was scattered and/or captured and sent to Babylon.

Supposedly they have ancient bibles over 1500 years old. These old worn out pages are treated with much tenderness and care.

Also internal evidence i.e. the fact that they know the exact tribes they are descended from and have carefully preserved that information generation to generation, testify's to the fact that at least they are absolutely sure they are Jews. They abstain from eating non-biblical foods, wear a form of talits and other Jewish garb. etc. All of this has gone a long way towards the world believing them, that they are Jews.

Israel definitely believes them. They send preachers, books, prayer books, computers and have set up schools to teach about traditional Judaism.

No DNA tests have been done yet.

The Lemba Jews which are scattered all over Southern Africa -- have been DNA tested and found to be Jewish.

GhettoChick,

The test I took distinquished between Igbo's and Yoruba and Hausa and Ibiobio's about a dozen other tribes, just in Nigeria.

Yet it did not go deeply and distinquish between Efik and other types of Igbo's, the way I understand it.

oh. is this in response to my question in the other thread?

ok. well, i'm good. lol! at that price, i'm willing to accept that my roots end at Igbo. I love Igbo anyways if the test was cheaper, i would have done it just for the fun of it. I have a very curious mind. in the end, all i can say is kudos to Igbos that believe they're Jews. Me being jewish won't change my condition. lol! i'm very satisfied with being just Igbo.

but really, i wonder what would make someone  (a tribe) from the MOTHERLAND, not even Somalia that's close to the Middle East, believe they're something apart from the obivous (AFRICAN).

lol. yeah, but i was referring to the Igbos that are looking to Jew as their ancestrial lineage.

GhettoChick,

I was making a joke about testing your brothers etc, instead because of your signature. That is what was so funny to me.

Smile

GhettoChick,

No, keep your signature. Since this whole DNA thing came about. I have been thinking about how exactly are they testing all these Africans and collecting their DNA samples.

Every year the database of African DNA lineages are getting bigger.

I doubt very much that Africans are sharing in any of the profit of their DNA being used for commercial purposes.

I need to go to a happy place.     It gets me riled up just thinking about it.

na palestinian BOMB una d invite for IGBO landoooo. I travel ooooooooooooooo.

We should actually take this seriously and get tested, the Lemba people are BANTU african and they did it they found out the truth. We should do the same, and not be so scared. The lemba people are still Lemba even though they found out more about their origins, it's not so wrong for us to do the same, but we stay making jokes about it and doubting.  There only way to know for sure is to, GET TESTED IGBO PEOPLE GET TESTED!~!!!