₦airaland Forum

cheruv:
Absolute BS!!!
Though understandable kos its coming from the mouth of a misinformed Bini

From all indications, Igbos don't know the meaning of the name or it's origin. There was nothing like Igbo just like Anioma. Can you tell me at what point in time Igbos recognized themselves as Igbos? or the meaning of the name? or origin? You can't answer this because nobody knows. everybody knows how the name Anoma came about and everybody knows we have collectively been called different names before this present names was coined.

gerg:
There was nothing like Igbo few decades or century ago but the whole South East have a deep sense of brotherhood even with some little issues they have but Ika, Enuani and Ukwani have always been known and classified as one people. different people have always have terms they identify Anioma area collectively from the olden days.

Please, what are these terms?

RedboneSmith:
Ah, you live outside Nigeria. It makes sense now. Oshimili is my second home. You will never know them more than i do. In fact, i am driving to Okwe this evening to hang out with my goons. And i am telling you as someone who eats from the same plate with the indigenes that they connect more with Ogbaru than they connect with Ika. They understand Ogbaru dialect far, far more easily than they understand Ika, and they understand that they share a deeper level of brotherhood with Ogbaru than they share with Ika. The riverine areas of Oshimili belong to the same geo-cultural entity with Ogbaru - they are all called Olu people. Ika is not Olu.

Before Dennis Osadebay in the 1950s or so, there was nothing like Anioma. Anioma is nothing but a political coalition of "Igboid" ethnic groups who found themselves in the Midwestern Region. You people in this age have turned it into what it was never intended for.

Actually, that I'm living outside Naija doesn't matter because I'm always in touch with my Anioma people wherever I am and I come home often because I have a business that brings me home. Last year alone I visited Nigeria twice and I spent most of these times in Asaba. I have friends who are from OKwe and oko.

Cire80:
Do you lack comprehensive ability? In my posts I've been making it clear my point is not if these communities are Ika or not. They can be Bini people losing their language or just speak Ika as a second language. [s]Some of these people are mixed as well. And again, how can one distinguish between Bini people that speak Bini from Ika speaking Bini people when originally Ika was of Bini stock? Same culture and same everything including migration stories just different times[/s]

What do you know about igbanke? I didn't even talk about Igbanke except when I corrected you about there correct name so how did you know much about them? How is Igbanke losing their language when there language was more Edoid than it is now? Ika language including igbanke was more Edoid and getting Igbonized day by day.

Ahhh this guy keeps repeating this stale line
Even the Bini recognized Ika as being Igbo and you're here claiming otherwise. Bini colonized Ika as a result of the conquest of 1577,so its expected to see heavy Edonization of Ika but claiming that Ika is Edo is similar to saying that Yeshua was not Jewish but Arab
Concerning the bold, Ika are not been Igbonized rather they're returning to their true identity which is Igbo. This identity was suppressed after the conquest but since the Ika regained their independence, its only natural that their true identity would gradually come back to the surface

gerg:
[s]From all indications, Igbos don't know the meaning of the name or it's origin. There was nothing like Igbo just like Anioma. Can you tell me at what point in time Igbos recognized themselves as Igbos? or the meaning of the name? or origin? You can't answer this because nobody knows. everybody knows how the name Anoma came about and everybody knows we have collectively been called different names before this present names was coined[/s].

Broz!
Before the white came there was no tribe called "Igbo". Igbo was a term used by people to refer to people that either lived on dry land or people that spoke similar languages. Coming to Anioma, there were two groups of people then in Anioma viz the Ika and the Oru/Olu. The Oru lived along the banks(both sides) of the river Niger(Ohimiri in Igbo) while the Ika lived to the West of the Oru. The Olu/Oru called the Ika "Igbo" bkos they lived on dry land while the Ika called these guys "Oru" bkos they lived in a riverine environment.
To the East of the Oru we had tribes like the Ado, Adama, Isiama, Oroata, Ihuruoha, Echee, Ubani, UkwaNgwa, Aro, Abam, Ada, Agbaja, Ogu Ukwu. You see there was no tribe called Igbo
Igbo came about during slavery as a term for all these tribes bkos it was noticed they spoke similar languages. If the British didn't come again and arochukwu ended up uniting Igboland under its control, Igbos have been called Aro by now
Concerning Anioma, the name was coined by Osadebei in 1951 to represent the Ika and the Oru who were found in the Midwest. If they were Edo like Cire80 and even you has been claiming, Osadebei won't have included the Ika to start with.

cheruv:
Ahhh this guy keeps repeating this stale line
Even the Bini recognized Ika as being Igbo and you're here claiming otherwise. Bini colonized Ika as a result of the conquest of 1577,so its expected to see heavy Edonization of Ika but claiming that Ika is Edo is similar to saying that Yeshua was not Jewish but Arab
Concerning the bold, Ika are not been Igbonized rather they're returning to their true identity which is Igbo. This identity was suppressed after the conquest but since the Ika regained their independence, its only natural that their true identity would gradually come back to the surface

I don't know what to call you. There was no form of conquest. Some communities in Ika are more than a thousand years old and even before this time, the founders of these communities are already practicing Bini culture and bearing Bini name. Was it your imaginary 1557 conquest that affected then more than a millenia ago?

Almost all of the Ika communities founded in the 15th and 16th century that have Bini origin were founded by Benin royal family members that were running away from persecution or execution. Was it this men running away from their Kingdom that conquered Ika in 1557? Bini Kingdom of old experience lots of turbulent time within the Palace and lots of people from royal families were fleeing. That's how they founded many of the Anioma Kingdoms

Cire80:
When I say Edoid I mean they used to have more Edo words and sentences than they do now. Years back, the Ika word for door was Ekue but now everyone is saying Uzor. Road used to be Uwaya, everyone is also saying Uzor. chair used to be Aga(rah), bench agbara and short stool was ekete now everyone use Oche generally for chair. I can give you hundred lists of Edo words that was in use in Ika area about 2 or 3 decades ago that have totally been replaced with Igbo words. It's only the elders that still use some of these words.

The Ika we speak today is not the Ika of 5 decades ago. The Ika spoken in those period are highly mixed with Edo and Igbo word but now all the Edo words are fast disappearing

Oops
Was this the angle you were coming from??
OK... What you're saying simply backed up the theory I propagated on my last response to you, which is that with the removal of Bini oppression from the daily lives of Ika people, their suppressed identity is gradually returning to the surface. That's why you see them changing names of things back to their pre Bini forms and being more freer to express their Igbo identity without the overbearing influence of Idu.
Moreover door in Igbo is Mgbō not Uzo...Uzo is for way or road.
Moreover do you still have that list?? Send it across to me there are some things I'd like to check up there

cheruv:
Oops
Was this the angle you were coming from??
OK... What you're saying simply backed up the theory I propagated on my last response to you, which is that with the removal of Bini oppression from the daily lives of Ika people, their suppressed identity is gradually returning to the surface. That's why you see them changing names of things back to their pre Bini forms and being more freer to express their Igbo identity without the overbearing influence of Idu.
Moreover door in Igbo is Mgbō not Uzo...Uzo is for way or road.
Moreover do you still have that list?? Send it across to me there are some things I'd like to check up there

I think you deliberately choose not to learn. Ika has never been suppressed by anyone. Ika language being igbonize and you're twisting it. I don't have any business arguing someone that has let prejudice block his sense of reasoning. Good luck

Cire80:
I don't know what to call you. There was no form of conquest. Some communities in Ika are more than a thousand years old and even before this time, the founders of these communities are already practicing Bini culture and bearing Bini name. Was it your imaginary 1557 conquest that affected then more than a millenia ago?

Almost all of the Ika communities founded in the 15th and 16th century that have Bini origin were founded by Benin royal family members that were running away from persecution or execution. Was it this men running away from their Kingdom that conquered Ika in 1557? Bini Kingdom of old experience lots of turbulent time within the Palace and lots of people from royal families were fleeing. That's how they founded many of the Anioma Kingdoms

IKA OR ANIOMA WERE IN THEIR PRESENT LOCATION BEFORE THE 15TH AND 16TH CENTURY. U CONFIRMED THIS IN PARAGRAPH 1.

THE RUN AWAY ROYAL FAMILY WAS AFTER THE BRITISH PUT A PRICE ON THEIR HEAD FROM THE LATE 15TH AND EARLY 16TH CENTURY, TO THE 19TH CENTURY WEN THE BRITISH SENT OBA OVONRAMWEN NOGBAISI TO EXILE IN 1897 IN CALABAR, AFTER THE ABOLITION OF SLAVE TRADE.


SO UR SUBMISSION CONTRADICTS ITSELF.


ONE MINUTE, IKA IS OVER A THOUSAND YEARS OLD, THE NEXT MINUTE RUN AWAY ROYAL FAMILY MEMBERS ESTABLISHED THEM IN THE 15TH TO 19TH CENTURY.


PLEASE, REVIEW UR SUBMISSION.

Cire80:
I don't know what to call you. There was no form of conquest. Some communities in Ika are more than a thousand years old and even before this time, the founders of these communities are already practicing Bini culture and bearing Bini name. Was it your imaginary 1557 conquest that affected then more than a millenia ago?

Almost all of the Ika communities founded in the 15th and 16th century that have Bini origin were founded by Benin royal family members that were running away from persecution or execution. Was it this men running away from their Kingdom that conquered Ika in 1557? Bini Kingdom of old experience lots of turbulent time within the Palace and lots of people from royal families were fleeing. That's how they founded many of the Anioma Kingdoms

IKA AND YORUBAS FOUNDED THE BINI CULTURE.

IT WAS THEIR DESCENDANTS THAT WERE BEARING BINI NAME AND PRACTICING BINI CULTURE.

ORIGIN OF THE IGBOS...

Eri (king)

Eri (c. 900 CE) is said to be the original legendary cultural head of the Umu-eri, a subgroup of the Igbo people. According to legends, Eri is said to come down from the sky, having been sent by God (Igbo: Chukwu). It is possible Eri must have migrated from southern Egypt through the Igala area, settled, and established a community in the middle of Anambra river valley (at Eri-aka) in Aguleri where he married two wives. The first wife, Nneamakụ, bore him five children. The first was Agulu, the founder of Aguleri (The ancestral head of Eri Kingdom clans) (the Ezeora dynasty that has produced 34 kings till date in Enugwu Aguleri), the second was Menri, the founder of Umunri / Kingdom of Nri, followed by Onugu, the founder of Igbariam and Ogbodulu, the founder of Amanuke. The fifth one was a daughter called Iguedo, who is said to have borne the founders of Nteje, and Awkuzu, Ogbunike, Umuleri, Nando and Ogboli in Onitsha. As one of the children of Eri, Menri migrated from Aguleri, which was and still is, the ancestral temple of the entire Umu-Eri (Umu-Eri and Umu-Nri). His second wife Oboli begot Ọnọja, the only son who founded the Igala Kingdom in Kogi State.[1]

Eri is the founder of the Umueri and Umunri clans, both of whom were some of the most influential and powerful dynasties of priests and diviners in Igboland and adjacent areas such as the Bini and Igala/Idoma areas. [2]

When Eri was sent by Chukwu from the Sky to the earth, he sat on an ant-hill because he saw watery marshy earth. When Eri complained to Chukwu, he (Chukwu) sent an Awka blacksmith with his fiery bellows and charcoal to dry the earth. After the assignment, the Awka blacksmith was given ọfọ as a mark of authority for his smithing profession. While Eri lived, Chukwu fed him and his people with azu-igwe. But this special food ceased after the death of Eri. Nri, one of his sons complained to Chukwu for food. Chukwu ordered Nri to sacrifice his first son and daughter and bury them in separate graves. Nri complied with it. Later after three-Igbo-weeks (Izu atọ = 12 days) yam grew from the grave of the son and coco yam from that of the daughter. When Nri and his people ate these, they slept for the first time; later still Nri killed a male and a female slave burying them separately. Again, after Izu Ato, an oil palm grew from the grave of the male slave, and a bread fruit tree (ukwa) from that of the female-slave. With this new food supply, Nri and his people ate and prospered. Chukwu asked him to distribute the new food items to all people but Nri refused because he bought them at the cost of sacrificing his own children and slave. Nri and Chukwu made an agreement. According to M. D. W. Jeffreys (1956:123) a tradition has it that:

"As a reward for distributing food to the other towns Nri would have the right of cleansing every town of an abomination (nso) or breach, and of tying the Ngulu (ankle cords) when a man takes the title of ozo. Also he and his successor’s would have the privilege of making the Oguji, or yam medicine, each year for ensuring a plentiful supply of yams in all surrounding towns, or in all towns that subjected themselves to the Eze Nri. For this medicine all the surrounding towns would come in and pay tribute and Umunmdri people then could travel unarmed through the world and no one would attack or harm them" [3]

The Igbo Benei Yisrael Jews of Nigeria

The Igbo Benei-Yisrael of Nigeria, sometimes addressed as "Igbo," are an Ibo ethnic group whom descended from the southern and westward migrations of both ancient Hebrew and later Israeli peoples from the Middle East into Africa. In more modern times the ancestral homeland of the Ibo Benei-Yisrael is in the Southeast and Western regions of Nigeria. The area where a majority of Ibo dwells straddles the River Niger, which divides the River and the Anambra States. Nigeria operates on a federal structure, of 36 states and the capital Abuja. The overall Igbo populations are normally found in the states of: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Rivers State, Delta State, and Imo.

The oral traditions of the Igbo maintain that their presence has been in what is termed "Igboland" for over 1500 years. The same oral histories also state that their ancestors were migrants from ancient Israel, possibly beginning with the Semitic migrations from Northern Arabia into Eastern Africa around 500 BCE.

According to the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) the Israeli patriarch Ya`aqov ben-Yitzhhaq (Jacob son of Isaac), had twelve sons whose descendents became the 12 tribes of Israel whom inherited the land of Canaan. There are several tribes of Israel, which according to The information in this document is copy written by the Ibo Benei-Yisrael Association ª February 16, 2003 various elders fathered the Igbo clan structure within the Ibo populace as it exists today. These Ibo ethnic groups are comprised of the following 3 lineage types:

• Benei Gath: Igbos said to have descended from tribe of Gath ben-Ya`aqov, who was the 8th son of the Israeli patriarch Ya`aqov (Jacob).[1] This lineage is traced though Gath's son Eri ben-Gath. [2]The clans said to come from this lineage comprise of the Aguleri, Umuleri, Oreri, Enugwu Ikwu, Ogbunike, Awkuzu, Nteje, and Igbariam.

•Benei Zevulun: Igbos said to have descended from the tribe of Zevulun ben-Ya`aqov, who was the 5th son of Ya`aqov (Jacob).[3]This lineage comprises of the Ubulu Okiti, Ubulu Ukwu, in Delta State,who settled in Ubulu Ihejiofor. According to tradition, it is said that a descendent of the tribe of Zevulun named Zevulunu, on the advice of an certain Levite, married a woman from Oji, whom descended from the tribe of Judah, and from this union was born Ozubulu ben-Zebulunu. It is said that Ozubulu then went on to have 4 sons of his own who settled into other parts of the region.These sons being: Amakwa, from whom a clan in Neni, Anambra State descended, and Egbema, from whom the Egbema Ugwuta clan in Imo State and the Ohaji Egbema clan in Rivers State descended.

•Benei Menashsheh: Igbos whom it is theorized may be descendents of the tribe of Meneshsheh ben-Yoseph, who was one of the grandsons of Ya`aqov (Jacob) through his 11th son Yoseph (Joseph). [4] According to the Torah Jacob claimed both Menashsheh and his brother Ephrayim as his own sons. [5] It theorized by some that this is the possible lineage of the Amichi, Ichi, Nnewi-Ichi clans.

It is also more than possible that certain Ibo Benei-Yisrael families may be descendents of Levitical (Levite Priests) migrants from Jerban, Tunisia whom were said to have left Judah and settled in North Africa before and after the destruction of the 1st and 2nd Temples in Jerusalem.[6] The most likely scenario is that the ancestors of the Ibo Benei-Yisrael were made up of familiar clans of Israelis and Judaens whom, for various reasons, left Israel before and during the Assyrian and Babylonian sieges.This would explain how their oral tradition contains the specific tribes these clans originated from.
(Quote) (Report) 6 Likes (Like) 1 Share (Share)
Re: For Those Still Doubting Igbo jewish link read Carefully by manchy7531: 10:24am On Aug 09, 2014
Methods of Hebrew and Jewish Migrations into the Maghreb (West)

According to most accounts, the earliest Israeli settlements in Africa were in places such as Ethiopia, Egypt and Tunisia. It is believed that these settlements may have been in existence as early as the kingdoms of David and Solomon, as well as during the Assyrian invasion of northern Israel in 722 BCE and the Babylonian captivity of Judah in 586 BCE in the Punic-Carthaginian age. These communities were augmented by subsequent arrivals of Jews after the destruction of the 2nd Jerusalem Temple in 70CE, when 30,000 Jewish slaves were settled throughout Carthage by the Roman emperor Titus. [7]

Africa is thus identified with it even more closely (Tamid, 32b, and the parallel passage, where "African land," is evidently the same as Carthage). The Septuagint (Isa. xxiii. 1), and Jerome (on Ezek .xxvii.), who, though a Christian, was taught by Jews, and very often the Aramaic Targumon the Prophets, identify the Biblical Tarshishwith Carthage, which was the birthplace of a number of rabbis mentioned in the Talmud (compare above the identification with Tunis). Africa, in the broader sense, is clearly indicated where mention is made of the Ten Tribes having been driven into exile by the Assyrians and having journeyed into Africa ( Mek., Bo, 17; Tosef., Shab. vii. 25; Deut. R. v. 14; and especially Sanh. 4a).

Connected with this is the idea that the river Sambation is in Africa. The Arabs, who also know the legend of the Beni Musa ("Sons of Moses"wink, agree with the Jews in placing their land in Africa (compare
Bacher, " Ag. Tan." i. 298; Epstein, " Eldad ha-Dani," p. 15). The probable basis of this legend must be sought in the actual existence of the Beta Yisrael (Jews of Ethiopia) in Africa. Rabbi Akiba, who traveled in Africa, on one occasion made use of an African word (Rapoport, in "Bikkure ha-'Ittim," iv. 70, 1823).[8]

In terms of the Ibo Benei-Yisrael, there are three possible methods from which their Jewish ancestry arrived within West Africa, specifically Nigeria.

1) Through early Hebrew and later Israeli migrations west from the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, and the Sudan.

2) Through trade and travel of North African Jews within the West African Kingdoms of Mali, Songhai, and Kanem-Bornu.

3) Through Jews traveling with Kel Tamasheq (Tuareg) trade caravans from various parts of Northeast Africa into West Africa.

The exact arrival date of the first Israeli ancestors of the Ibo Benei-Yisrael, from the Middle East into West Africa, is somewhat of a mystery. It is believed that the first migration of Semitic peoples into the region was prior to 202 BCE with the appearance of iron working civilizations, the most notable of which was the Nok. According to "The Penguin Atlas of African History", Page 30, by Colin McEvedy:

" The technology [iron working] had presumably spread from Egypt via Nubia and the Sahel corridor: spread from North Africa seems less likely (for a lack of trans-Saharan communication at this time) and independent local invention improbable (the timing fits the transmission hypothesis too well)." [9]

According to Nahum Slouschz's book, Travels in North Africa , page 211, "Inscriptions indicate that certain tribes of Israel, Asher and Zevulun, lived in Carthage ever since the foundation of the city." [10] Slouschz further wrote:

"We have seen that in all probability there were in Carthage and its dependencies large numbers of Jews, whom followed the Phoenicians into Africa. In this local tradition is in agreement with certain historical indications, while the manners and customs of the Jews of Tunis still give
evidence of their ancient origin. There is not the slightest doubt that the Jew was persisted in these parts from the Roman epoch to our times." [11]


In later centuries ancient Israelis and Jews are believed to have settled in Western Africa during the height of the Songhai, Mali, Ghana and Kanem-Bornu empires. According to various accounts from explorers of the region, several of the rulers of the Songhai empire were of Jewish origin, until Askia Muhammad came to power and in 1492 decreed that all Jews either convert to Islam or leave the region.[12]

It is also more than possible that the Ibo Benei-Yisrael, as well as other West African Jews, may be descendents of a people described by the 9th Century Jewish traveler Eldad ben-Mahli (also known as Eldad the Danite) who related the location of several of the "Lost Tribes of Israel." He further detailed that his tribe, Dan, had migrated from their Palestinian home so as not to take part in the civil war at the time of Yeroboam's secession, and were residing in the land of Havilah beyond the Rivers of Ethiopia.Three other tribes, Naphtali, Gath and Asher, were with them; these had joined them in the times of Sennacherib. They had an entire body of Scriptures barring Ester and Lamentations. They knew nothing of the Mishna nor the Talmud; but they had a Talmud of their own in which all the laws were cited in the name of Yehoshua ben-Nun (Joshua son of Nun) as he had received them at the hands of Mosheh (Moses). Eldad exhibited a ritual dealing mostly with the rules pertaining to the killing of animals for food. [13]

Historically, Jews have migrated from region to region in Africa based upon three factors: 1) Persecution, 2) Trade, and 3) Freedom to practice Torah. Jewish communities in locations such as Egypt,Ethiopia, Tunisia, and Morocco served as the core population centers of the Jewish periphery in Africa.During times of Islamic persecution, and also during times of relative calm, Jews traveled all over Northern and Western Africa for the purpose of establishing trade connections. According to Biblical and Talmudic sources this trade route, with West Africa, may have existed from as early as the reign of King David and the use of the term Tarshish in the Tanakh, Hebrew Bible, could also describe the Ivory Coast of West Africa.

This route may have been established in part because of the need in ancient Israel to produce the tekheletdye used for the tztzith (fringes)of Jewish garments. This dye, made from a gland of the Hillazon fish, was at one time very prominent in the Mediterranean and according to some accounts on the shores of West Africa. [14] In 2nd Kings chapter 10 verse 22 there is also a description of a three year voyage undertaken during the reign of King Solomon that was said to have returned from a portion of Tarshish with gold, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

Arab chroniclers of West Africa such as the 13th century historian Ibn Khaldun, the famous 12th century geographer Al-Idrisi, and the 16th century historian and traveler Leon Africanus wrote accounts of peoples whom they termed as "Jewish Negroes" in the Western Sudan. Looking at maps from the period we find similar use of the terms Tarshish, Ethiopia, and Kush, which were often used in ancient times to describe all peoples whom at the time some chroniclers were calling "Negro/Negroid" in the various regions of Africa. Early maps made by these explorers often depicted the "Sudan" and "Ethiopia" as lands from as far-east as modern day Ethiopia to as far west as modern day Nigeria and Cameroon. This similar to the way the "Africa" is used to describe the continent.

The decline of the Jewish communities of the Africa-Maghreb (West Africa) most likely began with the influx of Muslim invaders into North Africa starting in 640 CE and later into West Africa in the 1300's and 1400's CE. Various accounts record that Jews were instrumental in fighting with and often times leading the coalitions of peoples who unified to fight off the Islamic invasions. The most notable of which was the Jewish Berber Queen Kahina Dahiyah Bint Thabitah ibn Tifan, known as El Kahina. Believed to have been a descendent of the Israeli priestly class, El Kahina was able to lead North-African Jews, Berbers, Christians, and Greeks alike against the Arab invasions until her defeat at the hands of the Arab commander Hassan Ibn Numan. [15] During these times many of the Jews in Northern and Western Africa were forced to covert to Islam, exiled, sold into slavery, or massacred. Incursions of Christian missionaries may have also played a role in the decline of the distinct Jewish written element in the region.

As with other Jewish communities in Moslem controlled lands, the Jews of West Africa also suffered at the hands of various nobles in the Islamic ruling parties, which took power in the 1300 to 1400's. Such is the case of Al- Maghili whom tolled the death knell of Sahara and savanna Jewry when, in 1492 after destroying the Jewish enclaves in the Tuat, Mali he convinced potentates throughout the Western Sudan and the founder of Songhai to banish Jews from the empire's cities. No doubt that some sought refuge south and south east toward the forest. The records of such are some three hundred years later than the destruction of the independent Jewish enclaves of Qamnurya or Naghira, in the area of modern day Senegal, in the 11th and 12th century.

Due to these and other pressures the Ibo Benei-Yisrael along with other West African Jewish communities lost whatever written documents such as Torah, and other written traditions that may have existed. Yet, these communities, including the Ibo Benei-Yisrael, to this day were able to maintain at the least a knowledge of their Israeli origin and in some cases continue to practice their traditions in secret.Records of these communities however do exist within the Timbuktu, Mali Islamic library, which has documents of the presence of several Jewish families in West Africa dating from before the Muslim arrival in the 1300's CE.
(Quote) (Report) (Like) (Share)
Re: For Those Still Doubting Igbo jewish link read Carefully by manchy7531: 10:25am On Aug 09, 2014
The Ibo Benei-Yisrael within Nigerian History

Modern day Nigeria is a federation of states segregated by 3 major ethnic groups: the Ibo (Igbo),the Hausa/Fulani, and the Yoruba. The Ibo dominate the eastern and some southern regions, the west by the Yoruba and the north by the Hausa/Fulani. These three major groups were brought together via European efforts to divide Africa among themselves. Mounting ethnic tensions between these groups caused the Biafrans - the Igbos and other minority ethnic groups - in the southern-eastern region to fight for their independence from the federation only 6years after Nigeria gained it independence from British rule in 1960. [16]

The Ibo Benei-Yisrael as with other Jews have had to fight persecution as was seen during the unfortunate Nigeria - Biafra war (1966 to 1970), when abandoned by all, the Ibos alone faced Britain,Russia and the rest of greater Nigeria for more than 2 years. The Ibos forged armored cars from sedans,refined petrol using the crudest home made implements, made rockets, all these while under a blockade
enforced by Nigeria, Britain, Russia, and certain Arab States, which sent military personal to the region.

The current Ibo population is estimated to be between 50 - 60 million worldwide. A brief rendition of the character and behavior of the Ibo Benei-Yisrael and Igbo in general is that of, "a habitual wanderer, a trader, but his heart is always in Igboland." A true and popular saying in Nigeria is, “If you visit anyplace and fail to see an Ibo there, leave the place with haste as it is uninhabitable.”

Religious Practices and the Return to the Israeli Way

There are two theories in regard to the Jewish heritage of the Igbos. One theory states that as early Ivrim (Hebrews)migrated into Nigeria, the moniker by which they were called by outsiders was corrupted from Ivri to Ibo or Igbo. The second theory is that Igbo society may have been already established before Jewish migrations into the region. This theory goes on to state that as Jews made their way into West Africa that they intermingled with certain Igbo ethnic groups and thus only certain Ibo families have Jewish descent while others may have converted or were influenced by the Jewish presence in the society.

Most Igbos profess a belief system about which a partial description of can be found in the writings of Olaudah Equiano titled, "Interesting Narratives of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa the African,1789." This belief system is believed to be that of an early form of the Israeli faith before and during the early stages of when the people of Israel settled in Canaan. This system, as described by Olaudah Equiano, has for some Ibo been fused with Christianity due to the push of missionaries into West Africa. Yet, there is a minority that still cling on to the older purer version, which is believed to be the core of the Ibo Benei-Yisrael Jewish heritage.

When missionaries first made their way into West Africa the Ozubulu clan of the Ibo Benei-Yisrael resisted the Christian religion and most never converted. In recent years, a number of Ozubulu descendents are modernizing the very ancient form of the Israeli faith that their ancestors once practiced.In the Ozubulu region, they built a synagogue, even though for a lack of better terms they called it a "Traditional Church." This move took place with no outside influence, and is now causing a ripple effect within the local Ibo Benei-Yisrael communities.

Even to this day Ibo Benei-Yisrael practices are still in line with the commands given in the Torah. Even with the loss of the written record, the Ibo Benei-Yisrael people have maintained the customs and traditions of ancient Israel in an oral form. A few of these customs still in practice are: circumcision of sons on the eighth day of life, separation of women during the menstrual cycle, not cross
breading animals or plants, the prohibition of un-kosher animals for consumption, the celebration of Yom Kippur and Sukkoth, immersion for uncleanness, and Passover just to name a few. Similar to the Samaritans in Israel, and some Moroccan Jews certain Ibo Benei-Yisrael elders, believed to be descended from ancient Levites due to their Levitical practices, are distinguished within the community by donning red head coverings which only they can wear.

Though, for many Ibo Benei-Yisrael these practices have existed in their society for more than 1,000 years it was not until recently that some were able to make the more distinct connection to exactly why they were to be performed. This of course was another result of the loss of the written Torah from within the Ibo Benei-Yisrael community. According to G.T. Basdenin his book, ‘Among the Igbos of Nigeria",p. 31 noted:

“The Igbo country lies within the recognized Negro belt, and the people bear the main characteristics of that stock… There are certain customs which rather point to Levitic influence at a more or less remote period. This is suggested in the underlying ideas concerning sacrifice and in the practice of circumcision. The language also bears several interesting parallels with Hebrew idioms.” [17]

Recent archaeological discoveries in Igboukwu, a town about 30 kilometres from Onitsha by a team of researchers led by Professor Thurstan Shaw (1970) of the University of Ibadan, seem to suggest a lot more facts about the relationship between the Igbos and the Jews of old than was hitherto imagined. Like the mentioned teams of archaeologists, a fact-finding team of Israelis from King Solomon Sephardic
Federation made yet another significant discovery on the origin of the Ibos in 1997. On this Alaezi (1998) comments.

[b]According to various accounts there is a very significant concentration of the descendents of Eri,
the fifth son of Gad (see Genesis 46:16) live in Aguleri, Anambra State. Recently a very important discovery of clear evidence of Jewish ancestral origin of the Maghrebi Igbos was made in the domain of the traditional ruler of Aguleri at the instance of an Israeli team on a fact-finding mission in December 1997.What is believed to be one of the “memorial onyx stones" for the sons of Israel as HaShem commanded Moses (see Exodus 39:7) was discovered and identified as such by the team leader from the King Solomon Sephardic Federation. On the stone discovered in Aguleri engraved in a form of ancient Hebrew is the name ‘Gad’ in reminding one of the writing in Exodus 39:14. “There were twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of the twelve tribes.” There are also accounts of DNA testing which found the Kohen DNA marker within members of both Igbo and Yoruba peoples.[/b]

Currently there are thriving Maghrebi Igbo communities in places like Tel Aviv-Israel, south-eastern Nigeria, the United States and other places in the world. With the current resurgence of Jewish practice amongst Igbo men and women desiring to return to the international Israeli and Jewish community, the Maghrebi Igbo society is still a growing one with Hebrew and Torah study once again becoming more of the norm. There are currently more than 26 Igbo and non-Igbo Synagogues within Nigeria performing normal Shabbat (Sabbath) services and that number is growing. Further research is also being performed in and outside of Nigeria to give a more clear and concise account of the Jewish
origins of the Ibo Benei-Yisrael. It is the hope of this community of Jews that one-day they will be officially recognized under the Jewish Law of Return in Israel and abroad.

Written by Remy Ilona
The Igbo Benei-Yisrael Association of Nigeria
P.O. Box 11505
Garki-Abuja, Nigeria
011-234-8044103026
rcilona2000@yahoo.com
Edited by Ahab Eliyah
The Ibo Benei-Yisrael Association of New York
514 E. 88th 3BNew York, New York 10128

hammerF:
ORIGIN OF THE IGBOS...

When next you quote, include the url link or source, so we can all read & verify!

laudate:
When next you quote, include the url link or source, so we can all read & verify!

Not u again.. doubting Thomas.

hammerF:
IKA OR ANIOMA WERE IN THEIR PRESENT LOCATION BEFORE THE 15TH AND 16TH CENTURY. U CONFIRMED THIS IN PARAGRAPH 1.

THE RUN AWAY ROYAL FAMILY WAS AFTER THE BRITISH PUT A PRICE ON THEIR HEAD FROM THE LATE 15TH AND EARLY 16TH CENTURY, TO THE 19TH CENTURY WEN THE BRITISH SENT OBA OVONRAMWEN NOGBAISI TO EXILE IN 1897 IN CALABAR, AFTER THE ABOLITION OF SLAVE TRADE.


SO UR SUBMISSION CONTRADICTS ITSELF.


ONE MINUTE, IKA IS OVER A THOUSAND YEARS OLD, THE NEXT MINUTE RUN AWAY ROYAL FAMILY MEMBERS ESTABLISHED THEM IN THE 15TH TO 19TH CENTURY.


PLEASE, REVIEW UR SUBMISSION.

you only see what you want to see and it's pointless debating with people like you. Did you see the place I wrote 'SOME'? Did you also miss where I wrote almost all? So in your imaginary head, all Ika Kingdoms were founded the same time?

You also missed the part where I indicated that those Ika Kingdoms that have been in existence for more than a thousand years are already practicing Edo culture and bearing Edo names? Even the book written by Iduwe as biased as it was talked about many Edo culture in Agbor without making reference to Edo. He even ascribed Ika origin to many Edo culture and traditions which I think is not true. I know it's possible Edo copied some things from us but not those things he talked about

Cire80:
I think you deliberately choose not to learn. Ika has never been suppressed by anyone. [s]Ika language being igbonize and you're twisting it.[/s] I don't have any business arguing someone that has let prejudice block his sense of reasoning. Good luck

What's there to learn if all you do is contradict yourself
Ika is a thousand years old...Bini started expanding from 1440 under Ewuare the Great and at his death in 1473 the expulsions happened. So how can Ika that's a thousand years old turn around and be established by Bini émigré royals in the 1500s
Broz...its clear you know nothing about Ika history or you're deliberately trying to sidestep any fact that doesn't match your Bini bias
Anyway, do you still have that list?

Cire80:
you only see what you want to see and it's pointless debating with people like you. Did you see the place I wrote 'SOME'? Did you also miss where I wrote almost all? So in your imaginary head, all Ika Kingdoms were founded the same time?

You also missed the part where I indicated that those Ika Kingdoms that have been in existence for more than a thousand years are already practicing Edo culture and bearing Edo names? Even the book written by Iduwe as biased as it was talked about many Edo culture in Agbor without making reference to Edo. He even ascribed Ika origin to many Edo culture and traditions which I think is not true. I know it's possible Edo copied some things from us but not those things he talked about

WHERE DID UR BINI CULTURE COME FROM THEN?

IKA AND ANIOMA ARE THE SAMETHING. THEY ARE NOT AN EDOID GROUP.


EDOID GROUP ARE URHOBO, BINI AND ESAN. THE SIMILARITIES ARE THERE.


WAT UR SAYING IS LIKE AN IGBO PERSON SAYING URHOBO AND ESAN ARE ANIOMA?


IT IS MADNESS MY BROTHER.

hammerF:
Not u again.. doubting Thomas.

lol!

The problem with these Igbo people is that they formulate a theory without any evidence to back up their theory and stick to it. See Igbos that don't know their history trying to rewrite other people's history. it's quite funny.

Edo is from Igbo, original inhabitants of Ife were Igbos so Igbos were the aborigines of Ife. Igalla was founded by an Nri prince and Attah of Igalla still pay homage to Nri. These are the kind of theories I hear from Igbo people and it really sound funny. I'm not surprised when you people also write stuff about Anioma. This is what you people know how to do best

gerg:
The problem with these Igbo people is that they formulate a theory without any evidence to back up their theory and stick to it. See Igbos that don't know their history trying to rewrite other people's history. it's quite funny.

Edo is from Igbo, original inhabitants of Ife were Igbos so Igbos were the aborigines of Ife. Igalla was founded by an Nri prince and Attah of Igalla still pay homage to Nri. These are the kind of theories I hear from Igbo people and it really sound funny. I'm not surprised when you people also write stuff about Anioma. This is what you people know how to do best

I don talk say I no go laugh again today, but...hehehe...that comment you made which has been highlighted in bold type, is too hilarious for words!!

gerg:
The problem with these Igbo people is that they formulate a theory without any evidence to back up their theory and stick to it. See Igbos that don't know their history trying to rewrite other people's history. it's quite funny.

Edo is from Igbo, original inhabitants of Ife were Igbos so Igbos were the aborigines of Ife. Igalla was founded by an Nri prince and Attah of Igalla still pay homage to Nri. These are the kind of theories I hear from Igbo people and it really sound funny. I'm not surprised when you people also write stuff about Anioma. This is what you people know how to do best

U SERIOUSLY NEED TO REMOVE IFE FROM THIS DISCUSSION BECOS IFE WAS NEVER AN EMPIRE. THAT WAS THE REASON OYO IS MUCH GLORIFIED. EVEN OYO WAS NEVER AN EMPIRE EITHER, JUST SLAVE RAIDERS.

THE ONLY EMPIRE IN WEST AFRICA WAS NRI KINGDOM.


HERE IS A MAP OF SS AND U CAN SEE THE DISTANCE TO IFE.


NOW TELL ME IF YORUBAS FROM IFE WERE FLYING OR TELEPORTING TO THE SOUTH SOUTH.


IFE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BENIN.

cheruv:
What's there to learn if all you do is contradict yourself
Ika is a thousand years old...Bini started expanding from 1440 under Ewuare the Great and at his death in 1473 the expulsions happened. So how can Ika that's a thousand years old turn around and be established by Bini émigré royals in the 1500s
Broz...its clear you know nothing about Ika history or you're deliberately trying to sidestep any fact that doesn't match your Bini bias
Anyway, do you still have that list?

I pity your teacher. You seem like a special needs student that requires special attention before you understand simple write up. Even after drawing your attention to 'some' and 'almost all' you still go back asking the same thing. do you think Ika is a single Kingdom that was founded the same time? I give up on you

gerg:
The problem with these Igbo people is that they formulate a theory without any evidence to back up their theory and stick to it. See Igbos that don't know their history trying to rewrite other people's history. it's quite funny.

Edo is from Igbo, original inhabitants of Ife were Igbos so Igbos were the aborigines of Ife. Igalla was founded by an Nri prince and Attah of Igalla still pay homage to Nri. These are the kind of theories I hear from Igbo people and it really sound funny. I'm not surprised when you people also write stuff about Anioma. This is what you people know how to do best

Yes igala came from Nri but Nri forbade igala from paying homage to it...Nri was a spiritual empire not a physical that's why lasted so long for almost a thousand years. It was the disgrace of 1911 on the Eze Nri that led to the collapse of the ekwumekwu war of Anioma which enabled the British to amalgamate Nigeria three years after.

Cire80:
I pity your teacher. You seem like a special needs student that requires special attention before you understand simple write up. Even after drawing your attention to 'some' and 'almost all' you still go back asking the same thing. do you think Ika is a single Kingdom that was founded the same time? I give up on you

Guy, you have tried your best to enlighten so many people. E don do. Let us hope one day, they will see the truth.

cheruv:
Yes igala came from Nri but Nri forbade igala from paying homage to it...Nri was a spiritual empire not a physical that's why lasted so long for almost a thousand years. [b]It was the disgrace of 1911 on the Eze Nri that led to the collapse of the ekwumekwu war of Anioma [/b]which enabled the British to amalgamate Nigeria three years after.

PLEASE ENLIGHTEN ME ON THE BOLDED.

laudate:
Guy, you have tried your best to enlighten so many people. E don do. Let us hope one day, they will see the truth.

Doubting Thomas fighting us over Igala, u done hear am?


see:
cheruv:
Yes igala came from Nri but Nri forbade igala from paying homage to it...Nri was a spiritual empire not a physical that's why lasted so long for almost a thousand years.

hammerF:
Doubting Thomas fighting us over Igala, u done hear am?

see:

Yes igala came from Nri but Nri forbade igala from paying homage to it...Nri was a spiritual empire not a physical that's why lasted so long for almost a thousand years.

Oh, you want to add Igala to your enclave now?? Hehehe... you chaps never cease to amuse me! Don't forget that almost 50% of Igalas are muslims, o!!

cheruv:
Yes igala came from Nri but Nri forbade igala from paying homage to it...Nri was a spiritual empire not a physical that's why lasted so long for almost a thousand years. It was the disgrace of 1911 on the Eze Nri that led to the collapse of the ekwumekwu war of Anioma which enabled the British to amalgamate Nigeria three years after.

Nri has nothing to do with our Ekumeku war. What concerns Nri and Ekumeku?

laudate:
Oh, you want to add Igala to your enclave now?? Hehehe... you chaps never cease to amuse me! Don't forget that almost 50% of Igalas are muslims, o!!

Dude, the Igala actually believe they are directly related to the Igbos.

U are not Igala so u wont know, just go to Enugu, where u will see plenty Igala and Idoma people.

hammerF:
Dude, the Igala actually believe they are directly related to the Igbos.
U are not Igala so u wont know, just go to Enugu, where u will see plenty Igala and Idoma people.

You did a survey among all the Igalas in Kogi, Benue etc down to the border communities of Enugu & Anambra states, to be able to ascertain this? Please, stop your tales by moonlight....abeg!

laudate:
You did a survey among all the Igalas in Kogi, Benue etc down to the border communities of Enugu & Anambra states, to be able to ascertain this? Please, stop your tales by moonlight....abeg!

Dude up North, Igala, Idoma and Igbo share ancestry.