Tacitus, Ethiopians and Black St. Paul
Roman historian Tacitus wrote that many of his time believed that the Jews “were a race of Ethiopian origin.”
The Bible classifies the Ethiopians & Jews together, “Are ye not as children of the Ethiopians unto me, O children of Israel? saith the Lord.” (Amos 9:7)
Black Paul is mistaken for an “Egyptian” and declares himself to be a “Jew.” (Acts 21:37-39, 22: 2,3)
Persia and Ashanti
It has also been speculated that the Jewish presence and influence was greatly helped by the ancient gold trade between Persia and Africa.
Jews were the main intermediaries of this trade in the medieval ages since most Muslims (due to Islamic laws prohibition on usury) were wary of its usurious dimensions.
These Jewish itinerant traders came to rely on contacts with the various Jewish communities of West African who proved no mean help in sourcing the scarce commodity. Thus, for instance, the silk of the Royal Kente cloths of the Ashanti reputedly came from China.
Various historical accounts claim that Jewish travelers from Persia had organized exchanges of Chinese silk for gold in the Kingdom of Ghana; the Ashanti needed the silk for weaving Kente cloth and the Jews need gold for their intrinsic and fiscal value. It is said that the Ashanti words for numbers relate to those in Parsi, the language of Persia. See Lichtblau.
Genetics
Haplogroup E3B
The E3b haplogroup has been observed in all Jewish groups world wide. It is considered to be the 2nd most prevelent haplogroup amoung the Jewish population.
All the major studies agree that E-M35 is the second highest in prevalence next to J, for “Founding Jewish Lineages.” http://www.familytreedna.com/pdf/Behar_contrasting.pdf.
It is found in moderate amounts in all Jewish populations, from Ashkenazi, Sephardic, Kurdish, Yemen, Samaritan and even among Djerba Jewish groups.
The scientific consensus is that Haplogroup E3b (M35) appears to have originated in East Africa, but has been carried from there to the Near East and then on to North Africa and Europe. Today it is most common in East Africa, North Africa, the Near East and around the Mediterranean.
Haplogroup J
Haplogroup J (previously known as HG9 or Eu9/Eu10) is a Y-chromosome DNA haplogroup. T is subdivided into two subclades: haplogroup J2, defined by the M172 marker, and haplogroup J1, defined by the M267 marker.
Of special interest are maps that show the geographical spread of the J haplogroup. J1 and J2 are both common in southern Europe, central Europe, the Mediterranean region, and Africa. The J haplogroup is considered to be a signature gene of Jewish ancestry and the cohen modal gene happens to be a subgroup of J.
In fact, the highest frequencies of J1 (M267) are seen in the Middle East, north Africa, and Ethiopia. See (Thomas et al. 1999). J2 (M172) also exists in significant proportions across Africa especially among the semitic speaking peoples of Tigriniya, Amhara, and Oromiya.
The J1’s from the Middle East and North Africa seem to be distinguishable from the rest of J’s by having YCAII=22,22. Behar et al found that a significant proportion of the Jewish population of Europe (more than 20%) carry the J1 haplogroup. The other 20% carry the J2 haplogroup. See Behar et al Hum Genet (2004) 114: 354-365
Cohen Modal Haplotype
The presence among the Lemba of a disproportionate number of men carrying a particular polymorphism on the Y chromosome known as the Cohen modal haplotype suggests an ancestral link to the Jewish population. One sub-clan within the Lemba, the Buba clan, is considered by the Lemba to be their priestly clan. Among a small sample of the Buba, fifty-two percent of males were found to carry the Cohen modal haplotype CMH, which is generally suggestive of Y-DNA haplogroup J, but notably prevalent among Jewish Kohanim, or priests.
Decline of the Black Jews of Africa
Many reasons have been sought for the decline and virtual disappearance of Africa’s once thriviing Jewish communities of black Jews. Many see the beginning of this decline as contemporaneous with the advent of the Islamic religion in Africa.
Some historical accounts highlight the fact that black Jews were die-hard nationalistic traditionalists and had led the black African resistance against the influx of the black muslim jihadists and their new interpretation of morality. The most notableof these black Jewish nationalists was Queen Kahina Dahiya Bint Thabitah ibn Tifan otherwise known as El-Kahina. A descendant of one of the priestly Black Jewish families of North Africa, Kahina led the nationalist resistance against the muslim invasion until her defeat at the hands of Hassan Ibn Numan. See Margolis, “History of Jewish people”, 1927 pages 278-279. See also Remy Ilona, “The Igbos: Jews in Africa?” volume 1, Research Findings Historical Links, Commentaries, Narratives,” 2004, Mega Press Limited, Abuja, Nigeria.
Amidst this tumult, the Jews of Northern and West Africa were given a choice of conversion or emigration. Many left for the deeper forest recesses of West Africa seeking the peace and tranquility that appeared to elude them in each generation. The late incursions by the colonialist christian elements of Europe did not make matters any better. There seems to have been a direct link between the incursion of relatively modern religions in Africa and the decline of the ancient practise of the Hebrews which had a pride of place in Africa, its mother land.
For instance the Jewish enclaves of Qamnurya or Naghira in the area of modern Senegal was destroyed completely in the wake of sectarian unrest. Similarly, Al-Maghili a prominent black Muslim noble not only destroyed the Jewish enclaves of Tuat in the old Mali empire, he convinced other potentates throughout the Western Sudan to banish Jews from the empire’s cities. See Remy Ilona, supra.
Lichtblau speculates that: although “…Jewish presence is also confirmed by numerous surviving accounts of Portuguese and other European visitors in the 14th and 15th centuries, as well as North African and Arab historical records… gradually most of these communities disappeared. Since they existed largely in isolation, there was a good deal of intermarriage which for a while reinforced their influence and expansion. As a result they were increasingly viewed as a threat by Muslim rulers, and most of the Jewish communities and nomad groups south of the Atlas mountains were either forced to convert to Islam or massacred; the remainder fled to North Africa, Egypt or the Sudan, and a few also to Cameroon and Southern Africa.”
Jide Uwechia
August 19, 2007
Hallo Ak
My Zulu friends told me that ikwezi means ” morning star”
so I think Ba- chwezi means children of the morning star.
Doc. is right i think they were aliens. probably from sirus???
Good morning, Muwanga;
One of the uniqueness of Hebrew language is that its alphabets has no written vowels and that is why only those that speak Hebrew know the proper placement of the vowels as well as the consonants. The meaning of a Hebrew word will be different from the true meaning if the vowels are either missing or placed wrongly. So, when I say that the Jews today do not know, speak, or understand the true Hebrew language, it is on the basis that many meanings of the word and names in the Bible they provided are wrong. For instance, the Jews told the world that Isaac means laughter but that is false. The Jews pronounce the name “Ishak”. Any Igbo knows that there are vowels missing in that word. So, to write the name so that it can reflect the true Hebrew meaning, you must put in the vowels in the appropriate places, hence the name is “Ishiaku” which means “Crown of Wealth”.
Your Zulu friends may be write because as you can see, I was injecting some letters and changing some vowels around to make it conform to the true Hebrew. In Hebrew, the meaning of Chi is god or spirit, depending on the context, but “Ikwe” means “If you agree” while “Ikwezi” means “Do you agree”. So, “Kw” and “Chi” are not the same. Hence I can assure you that Ch(i)wezi(e) is closer to “God is the King than it is to “Morning Star”.
Anyway, I do believe that the Zulus are Hebrew for these reasons:
1. The Zulu says UmuZulu which means the children of Zulu in Hebrew.
2. The Zulu says “Kwe Zulu” which means “Zulu agree” in Hebrew, while the Igbo says “Igbo Kwenu” and it also mean “Igbo agree”.
3. The Zulu says “Ama Zulu” which means “The House or the Place of Zulu” in Hebrew.
4. In the epic movie “Shaka Zulu”, I saw Aka NRI or midget involved in the crowning of Shaka’s Father as the king of Ama Zulu. The involvement of Aka NRI shows that Zulu may be Hebrew because no candidate to the Royal Priesthood of Igboland NRI (Nazarene King of the Jews) will be crowned unless he presents a midget (Aka NRI).
So, if the vowels and consonants are not well placed or are missing, the meaning may differ. For example, the name of one Kenyan is “Ikech” and this should be “Ikechi” or “power of God”.
To identify these words, one must be conversant in the various and variant Hebrew dialects of Igboland.
I cannot tell you whether these ancient people are aliens or not because only God can tell their story (Isaiah 44:7). In my second manuscript dealing with God and the Hebrew I tried to help people to know the Hebrews and their mysterious relationship with God. I thank you.
Brother Akannam and Muwanga touch interesting points of langauage sylables. I am mosotho, one of south african group along the Zulus. I am conversant in zulu langauge and the word Zulu means Heaven and AmaZulu will mean the children of heaven.
You are right in zulu bantu means, Batho in Sesotho, means human beings. Its derivetive is Botho or Ubuntu meaning humaneness, a cultural value that distinguishes us from animals or evil. If it is said you have Botho it means you are ‘of a true godly, kindly hamane nature being’. If it is said you have no botho or ubuntu it means you are a monster, animal, devil or something maleviolent in nature.
the other zulu word is ukuwazi, ho tseba in sesotho, means to know. whilst kwezi in nguni means star and naledi in Sesotho. What about Modimo, Tlatlamatjolo, Ramasedi, Mmmupi in sesotho that means God, the greater, the almighty? Im sure there lot of other similarities in our cultural values as africans that one can find.
please keep up a good linguistic comparisons it can only show commonalities amongst africans and bring us together like our forebearers were before the scatterings.
Very fascinating. I am an Igbo, and a writer as well. You can check out my genealogy blog here: http://www.migrationstoriesofnigerianigbo.wordpress.com
Ishaq and Akannam, I would like to speak with you both more on this. Thanks.
L,
If you are interested in speaking
further,you can contact me at:
The Isawiyya Israelite Mosque
of Qaraims
E-mail = QARAIMS777@LIVE.COM
I have been reviewing your geneological blog
on Igbo history,geneology and DNA.
Ishaq,
Thanks, will do.
Take care.
Jahdey,
I will have to sift back through
earlier notes to see if I have a list of
words that are common to both the Igbo
and Lugbara languages. This information
was revealed in an interview that I had
conducted with a Lugbara Doctor of Medicine
who had studied alongside Igbo students.
It was further verified when I handed a
Lugbara-English dictionary to an Igbo
librarian who immediately confirmed the
strong linguistic affinities.
i too would be very interested to know what language word similarites there are with lugbara and igbo. Also your above theories. I am a Lugbara from Uganda and have been advised by my Elders on a few occassions that we have similar names with either the youruba or igbo tribe.. You are first i have come across that has broken this topic with such accuracy
still eagerly awaiting language word similarites between igbo and lugbara
Hallo AK.
Re: ikwezi.
The morning star according to my Swazi friends is only seen sometimes i.e. not every day. it is visible to people at around 3 to 4pm. They also say the moon is called inyanga / another name for month.
In luganda the moon is called mwezi another name for month.
so you can see the ” wezi” link in both languages i.e. relating to a heavenly body.
The Dogon people of Mali speak of a star…. Sirus…….. may be thats another link to the Ba-chwezi
so you can see that
In sesotho we have ‘kgwedi’ which means a month or a moon. Its derivtive is ‘Ngwedi’ meaning a light of the moon. You will see brothers and sisters that all african langauge show similarities and that means the source of african people is the same.
Meekahaefele,
As a Zulu you should also know that
that the Zulu and Muwanga’s tribe the BaGanda have
a very close relationship which is still maintained to
this day. The name of the capital of BuGanda(Uganda)
being Kampala is believed to come from the Zulu word
Impala referring to a type of animal(antelope). The dress
of the Kabaka (leopard skins etc.) is very similar to that
which is worn by the Zulu Chiefs. The Zulu leaders always
attend all royal BaGandan functions. A friend from Uganda
living in South Africa claimed he could understand many
words from the Zulu language. He is from another Bantu
tribe in Uganda known as the BaGisu. The name Bantu
means “the People” as the BaGanda and Zulu are amongst
some of the most prominent Bantu tribes in Africa.
I agree brother Ishag, many Ugandas that I met in South Africa said it they way you see it. So if these african similarities confirm our common ancestory it will be easier to have a united africa under same rules where one person one vote is the central feature. At least to bring our heritage to bear on all humanity with a united front.
Meekahaefele,
I can see the possibility
of unifying the BANTU tribes who have
a common heritage and origin. The
word BANTU means THE PEOPLE
Ba-Ntu. Fortunately the Bantu comprise
the vast majority of Africans and African
tribes(80%). However unifying with the
traditional enemies of the Bantu may prove
to be a little more difficult in such cases as:
1. Hutu(Bantu) vs Tutsi(Hamite) – Rwanda
2. Kikuyu(Bantu) vs Luo(Nilotes) – Kenya
3. BaGanda(Bantu) vs Acholi/Luo(Nilotes) -Kenya
4. Zulu(Bantu) vs. Khoisan(Hamites) – South Africa
5. Igbo(Bantu/Sudanic) vs. Fulani(Hamites) Nigeria
6. Lendu(Bantu/Sudanic) vs. Hima(Hamites) Congo
Sorry AK
I meant 3 to 4 am
Good Morning, Muwanga:
Remember that Igbo (Hebrew) is not only the original language of the earth, but also the language of God himself. As I have said many times, I know this because the name of God as the Divine Father, Divine Mother, and the hosts of heaven, including Satan (Osatana) is pure Igbo (Hebrew). We must also not forget that this original language was confused by God during the Tower of Babel incident, except for the Adama Priestly lineage of which Shem (Chima) as the most perfect of them is known as Melchizedek (Malachi-Ezedike), who preserved the language. That is why it is the Igbo of Enugu, Ebonyi, Delta State, Anambra, Imo, and Abia States that speak the true Hebrew language today. The Adama priesthood inherited by Ebo (Eber) preserved the heavenly language although some of the sacred words have gone, and are still going extinct today. So, I have the privilege to speak Igbo today only because my ancestor Odu left Idah (Judah) in Kogi State to Ora-Ivite in Anambra State – the most pure speakers of the true Hebrew language of God.
In addition to the confusion in language, even Igbo (Hebrew) groups all over Africa who used to speak Hebrew no longer speak it because of foreign influences of immigration and language and phonetic mixes of different people groups. And the key evidence is that in most of these Hebrew derived languages, many Hebrew vowels and consonants are either missing of misplaced. In some cases, these former Hebrew words are given different meanings due to migration influences.
For example, the word “Inyanga” means “Pride” in Igbo (Hebrew); and the month is called “Onwa” which means the “Moon”. This is the problem. So, “Wezi” does not in any way refer to the moon in Hebrew langauge eventhough I believe strongly that it a Hebrew word with preverted meaning. I thank you.
Muwaga
Wow sounds like Zulu, I am astonished! Please teach me some Hebrew! wow!