The Emerging Trend of Black African Zionism: The Facts and Myths of Claims of Jewish Origins by the Igbo of Nigeria
Nwankwo T. Nwaezeigwe.
“The Emerging Trend of Black African Zionism: The Facts and Myths of Claims of Jewish Origins by the Igbo of Nigeria.”
Igbo Studies Review (ISR)
, Goldline & Jacobs Publishing
, no. 8, 2020
, pp. 19-37
.
In recent times there has been increasing interest among the Igbo to define their identity in terms of Jewish origins. This has led to the formation of some Zionist-oriented organizations. Among such organizations are Igbo Interests World Wide, College of Igbo Elders for Igbo Reformation Back to Jerusalem Reconciliation Movement, Ibo-Hebrew Language Project, and now the trending Obu Gad-Aguleri Hypothesis of Igbo-Jewish origins. Their common objective seems to revolve around the quest for the official recognition of the Igbo as part of the World Jewry and sub- sequent return to Eretz Israel. The present paper, therefore, examines the facts, myths, and probabilities of this seemingly emerging trend of Zionism in Black Africa. It begins with the examination of the existing three theories of Igbo origins. It, however, concludes with the probability of a remote Igbo - Jewish connection.