THE NIGERIAN
23
TUESDAY JANUARY 6, 2015
Society ISRAELI-DESCENT HYPOTHESIS As early as 1789 precisely 213 years ago the view that Igbo originated from Israel was not only held but had actually been published and documented in London. Olauda Equiano an Igbo ex-slave in London was not only the first documented Igbo historian and ethnograpist, but also the first to ask and answer the question, “What is the origin of Igbo?” Equiano having obtained his freedom from slavery through the rigours of hard work had undertaken to educate himself and write his own autobiography. In that autobiography he proceeded to answer the question of Igbo origin by insisting that Ndi-Igbo are among the lost tribes of Israel. Equiano went on to confirm his Conviction by appealing to the many identical cultural and religious elements practical among the Jews and the lgbos. Whether or not Equtano was right, his view (which might represent popular opinion in his day) has come to prevail among many Igbo people as the most probable explanation of their history of origin. The view has mostly prevailed not just among the elders and illiterate but also among the elites in Igbo society and beyond. Dr. Dozie Ikedife, Ikenga Nnewi, an elderly medical consultant (Ikedife Hospital Nnewi) said that “the feeling in our blood suggests that we actually originated from Israel.” Tempo, a widely circulated, Nigerian newspaper in one of its editions put the following question to Emeka Ojukwu, the crowned Eze Igbo-gburugburu: “The Igbo have the Jewish blood. Some of us respect that. They are enterprising and intelligent. In this country, they are among the most intelligent people no doubt.” “We’ve heard so much about the link between the Israelites (the Jews) and the Igbos. Are there really a historical connection between the two peoples?” Ojukwu responded in the following words: “Increasingly, researchers are beginning to unearth linkages between the Israelis and the Igbo people. I don’t know how to explain that to you, but, biblically, we know there is a lost tribe of Israel. Biblically, we know that that tribe were kindred of ERI. Biblically, we know that they went down South. Our contemporary and current understanding tells us they could be the originators of the various Eris that we found in Igboland. The people of Aguleri in Igboland maintain that they are the origin, but that apart, if you speak Jgbo, I ask you, what is the meaning of Eri Mgbe Eri?’ The Igbo concept of the beginning of time encapsulated in that concept: Eri Mgbe Eri (since the
Igbos And Concept of Eri Mgbe Eri beginning of time or since the time of Eri.” Gani Fawehinmi, a foremost human rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) said that “The Igbos, by their contribution to the economic development of this country are otherwise called
the JEWS of this country.” Sarah Jibril, former Presidential aspirant on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) believes Igbo-Israeli connection. Her testimony: “The Igbo have the Jewish blood. Some of us respect that. They are enterprising and intelligent. In this country, they are among the most intelligent people no doubt.” Recently in one edition of African Readers Digest Godfrey Chukwuneke and M. Okoye advocated. That the Igbos are part of the lost tribes of Israel or at least mixed with some Jewish tribes in remote antiquity.” Godfrey and Okoye went on to identify, apparently based on Equiano’s proposition, many cultural and religious Igbo and Jewish elements as suggestive of common ancestral descent. Both the Igbos and Jews have common belief in the unchangeable existence, of a Supreme Being known as Chukwu and Yahweh (Jehovah) respectively. Both the Igbos and Jews make sharp distinction between God the creator and the devil (known as Ekwensu in Igbo). The punishment for deliberate murder, life for life. (Exodus chapter twenty one), or injuries are characteristic of both the
Igbos and Jews. The term Abia or Abiah, an Igbo word, consequently, the identity of the present Abia State is found in the Jewish Bible. It is a Jewish name given to the second
Scripture. (Genesis 4: 19-20). Interestingly the word Adah (sometimes spelt Ada) among the Igbos remains till today the title of the first daughter in Igbo families. The expression
- that a victim of violence may resort to the altar (alusi in Igbo) for divine protection, (1 Kings 2:28-30). Both the Igbo and Jews have a common tradition of lengthy funeral ceremony (Genesis 50:1-3), though some of Igbo communities have started quite recently to minimise in this area. Jews circumcise their male children and present them to Jehovah on the eighth - day.
son of Samuel, one of the most illustrious of the Hebrew prophet (1 Samuel 8:2, see also 1 Chronicles 2:24; Luke 1:5 KJV). This word Abia found both among the Igbos and Jews perhaps explain why the first executive governor of Abia State, Ogbonnaya Onu, decorated Umuahia arid the State capital with the inscription, “God’s own State”. It remains the pride of Abia
Umuadah or Umuada in Igbo generally refers to the daughters of the paternal kindred or extended families. The Umuada is a power to reckon with in Igboland. Both Igbo and Jewish customs allow a man to raise children from his brother’s widow. Alter committing a serious crime unavoidably or inadvertently both the Jews and Igbo provides
The Igbo as well circumcise theirs and unfailingly have the eighth day as the day for both circumcision and the naming ceremony. The similarities seem to extend to the use of intermediaries in marriage negotiations. The Igbos, even of today use intermediary, onyeaka-ebe, in marriage contract. So did Abraham the father of the Jews in negotiating Rebecca
By UCHECHUKWU IFEANYIBE
Egypt, arrived at the confluence of the Rivers Niger and Anambra now known as Ezuna Omambala, lived there as alien among the people he met, got assimilated and became their Samuel - King, high priest, Judge, etc.” In my book, Hebrew and Biblical Sources of Igbo History, the following summary is presented about ERI: “The man GAD was the seventh son of Jacob whom God renamed ISRAEL Gad was born to Zilpah, Leah’s maidservant in the ancient City of Padda-aran (Northern Mesopotamia) probably 1749 BC, Gen. 30:9-13, 35:26. He was about forty Years old when he and his family moved to Egypt along with his father, Jacob in 1728 BC, Gen. 46:6,7 Before settling there finally GAD had accompanied his brothers in two trips to Egypt to get grain from Joseph who was the prime minister of that Land, Gen. 42:15. When their father moved to Egypt, all his family including GAD settled in the City of Goshen, were Israelites lived for 430 years, Gen. 45:10, 47:27, Exo. 12:40. It was from this City of Goshen that Eri the fifth son of GAD migrated to the interior part of what was later known as Africa. ERI and his entourage continued his movement south ward until he finally settled at a place known to us today as Aguleri i.e. AGULU-ERI. In Aguleri today, there is a place called AGBANABO-EZUNAOMAMBALA (The confluence of the rivers, Ezu and omambala, which form the Anambra River). Here it is believed, ERI landed with his entourage before moving to settle in OBI-GAD, Aguleri. Today the people of Aguleri in Anambra State still claim that the site of OBI-GAD (i.e. GAD’s memorial palace) is still visible. The palace is said to have been built by ERI in memory of his
“Dr. Dozie Ikedife, Ikenga Nnewi, an elderly medical consultant (Ikedife Hospital Nnewi) said that “the feeling in our blood suggests that we actually originated from Israel.” Tempo, a widely circulated, Nigerian newspaper in one of its editions put the following question to Emeka Ojukwu, the crowned Eze Igbogburugburu: “The Igbo have the Jewish blood. Some of us respect that. They are enterprising and intelligent. In this country, they are among the most intelligent people no doubt.” people of Igbo to always claim that their name is found in the Bible. The word Umuahia, actually is properly pronounced Umuabia (children of Abia). Another word shared commonly by both Jews and the Igbos is the word Adah. Adab is the name of the Second woman mentioned in the Bible – Old Testament Hebrew
that such a man may take refuge in his mother’s natal home (known as Ikwunne in Igbo). Compare Okonkwo’s exile in Achebe’s Things Fall Apart with Genesis chapter twenty-eight, especially verse one and two. The Jewish sanctuary concept and the Igbo Osu caste system seem to serve common purpose
for Isaac. Genesis chapter twenty four. Ikpo Ezenri, Nri Enweleani II traced the arrival of Eri, a man of Israel reputed to have founded Igbo nation, in the following words: “By the power of the covenant between God and Israel, Eri travelled from (among Israelites in)
father GAD. As for ERI himself, his grave is still located at the Ancient Eri Kingdom, Aguleri, Anambra State. It is important to note, “that the Eri of Igbo legend and the Biblical Eri refer to the same person is not a subject of contention.”