When I read in some online newsletters some months ago that some “Jewish scientists” arrived Nigeria, to test the DNA of the Igbo people for “Jewishness”, I was not amused, because I know that there is no DNA test for “Jewishness.” Little probing revealed that whom one of the newsletters, the ‘Authority’ called Jewish scientists were members of the American
messianic group called Jewish Voice International.
These coupled with the fact that no important and
duly registered newspaper carried the news stirred
my interest. I decided to follow the exercise and
know how it would end. I gathered that the religious
body Jewish Voice collaborated with a Nigerian
religious group called, Redeemed Israel Community
of Nazarenes Association (RICON) on this exercise.

They got saliva samples from both states that Igbos
are native to, and states that Igbos are not native to
for the tests. According to Isaac Ojo, writing for the
Authority newsletter of 27th February 2017, and
quoting the RICON DNA Committee Secretary Win
Gozie Aguh, “………. specimens of males were
randomly selected from nine South East and South
South states where the Igbos are found.” The states
are, according to Ojo, citing RICON, “ Abia,
Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, Delta, Cross Rivers,
Akwa Ibom and Rivers States.” It is important to
note the following: Igbos are not native to 2 of the
states; are not majorities in two others, and in the
five which they are the solid majority and are native
to, non Igbos also reside.

These set off alarms. Has DNA tests which
determine Jewishness been developed? Are
members of Jewish Voice “Jewish scientists” or
“Israeli scientists” as they are also addressed by
the newsletters that carry their activities in Nigeria?
Why did RICON get samples from non Igbo areas
and claim that it got Igbo samples? I decided to
await the outcome of the testing.

DNA screening is not new to the Igbo. I have had
my DNA analyzed, because I wanted to know if my
genes would show connections to the Middle East,
where I believe that the Hebrew religion and culture
which closely resemble my Igbo culture and religion
originated. My result which I shall attach to the
bottom of this article shows a Middle Eastern
connection. Deeper study of the data reveals that
my genes, you might say ancestors, were at the
Red Sea. Some other Igbos have had theirs
analyzed, and the results are similar to mine.

After five months, the “Jewish scientists”, using the
words of the Authority newsletter of August 7, 2017,
arrived in Nigeria and announced their findings.
According to the Authority, “The International
President of Jewish Voice Ministries, Rabbi
Jonathan Bernis, announced that the result of saliva
samples taken in Nnewi had shown that the Igbo were not Jews…….The Israeli in company of three of his
compatriots said that none of the 124 specimen
taken from Nigeria matched the samples in the
Houston laboratory which has 17 years’ experience
in DNA business.”

Continuing, the Authority reported that Bernis noted,
“however ….. that the result does not rule out the
claim of Igbo to Israeli descent as more research
would still be made to authenticate the claims.”
Relying on what the newsletter cites Bernis as
having said, his findings raises only questions and
produced no answers. How did Jewish Voice’
partners determine who was Igbo when they
selected their subjects as they got specimen from
people who are native to clearly non Igbo territory,
from their own admission? Did Jewish Voice verify
that the specimens in the laboratory that tested its
‘Igbo’ samples belonged to people who did not
convert to Judaism? A convert to Judaism is as
Jewish as someone who has been Jewish for 1000
years, but the person who converted may not have
genetic connections to the Middle East as I have, if
the person’s gene pool has no Middle Eastern
connections.

It would be interesting to see the responses of
Jewish Voice and RICON to these questions.

My raw DNA result

Remy Ilona is of Ibo or Igbo extraction. The Ibo
are among the three largest ethnic groups in
Nigeria.He is a lawyer by training, and is also
experienced as a historian of the Ibo. He is
also an author who has published 6 books
about the Ibos and their connections with the
Jews and the Land of Israel.He is among the
leaders shepherding the Ibos re-emerging
Judaism. Presently he is in Miami where he is
studying with the famous Professor Tudor
Parfitt, and also working as a graduate
assistant at the Florida International University,
Miami.

http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/outcomes-of-messianic-genetic-testing-of-african-jews-unfolding-more-questions-than-answers/

op when you blog the story no one will believe you. Just post the original site so that others could confirm.
No vex o!

haha i thought kanu said d test comfirm they are jews?
who is lying here?

I doubt that we are from Abraham s ancestry. What I suspect is that we crossed at some time in the past and were influenced by Judaism.

The problem with African culture I see is that we have left it's history in the hands of peoples outside of our interests therefore we are very much ignorant of African movements in the ancient world

Anyway as a Christian I'm saddened that black people are trying to asurp Judaism as there own with many outlandish statements lending to the false belief that Africans were the original Jews. Yes there was more diversity during that time and Africans were hugely prominent as global empires i.e Sudan, Egypt, Nubia etc etc but usurping someone's else's culture is not a good look

Ndi Ara na ayi ara.

They should text that Eze Nri who claim to be a direct descendant of Eri son of Gad son of Jacob to confirm his Jewishness .
They should spare the rest of us with their Jewish drama.

Fake news by Afonjas

IgboSubmarine:
Fake news by Afonjas

It is not actually fake.

The writer Remy Ilona is a prominent igbo-jewish campaigner in America.

He faulted the unknown Jewish group that said Igbos are not Jews with their so called DNA test.

And the times of Israel,one of the leading media house in Israel allowed him to use their platform to air his view.

If I am a Jew then my father is David that defeated Goliath.

Nonsense.

It's obvious.. kalu is confuse trying to lnvolve d Jews in his biafra campaign... beside who does dat (test for jewishness )... soon we go get oda tests like test for stupidity or Judaism... and it will be scientifically proven

RisingSun1:
It is not actually fake.

The writer Remy Ilona is a prominent igbo-jewish campaigner in America.

He faulted the unknown Jewish group that said Igbos are not Jews with their so called DNA test.

And the times of Israel,one of the leading media house in Israel allowed him to use their platform to air his view.

If he acknowledged that Igbos are Jews no problem because I know we are Jews