By Japhet Alakam
THE widespread notion that the
Igbo of the South Eastern Nigeria are direct descendants of the Jews has been a
subject of debate.
While many ascribe it to the
fact that there is a connection between the Igbo and Judaism based on a
critical study of their linguistic, archeological, genetic and cultural ties,
some others disagree saying that it is not so as they attribute the Jewish
identification among the Igbo as a result of Christianity brought by missionaries,
since most Igbo people are Christians.
But what is the true story,
though many writers have written on this subject matter, but the book, The Igbos And Isreal; An Inter-
Cultural Study of the largest Jewish Diaspora written by Abuja based Igbo author, lawyer and activist, Remy
Ilona is unique in that it is a concerted move to answer the question based on
a research carried out about it.
Written with the background
that a significant part of the origin of their custom emanated from the ancient
Isrealities and that Jewish identification has been part of the Igbo
experience, the author who is one of the few Igbo authors with profound
knowledge of the Hebrew Bible and its later Jewish commentaries carried out a
comparative research, studying what others have written earlier on the subject
and interviewing some of the eldest priests and others at Nri, and other Igbo
locations.
It is his findings that formed
the bulk of the 284 pages book divided into 20 chapters.
A study of the book shows that The Igbos And Isreal; An Inter-
Cultural Study of the largest Jewish Diaspora is an inter cultural study of the systematic comparism of Igbo
culture to the Hebrew and Isrealites. One special attribute of the book is the
author’s ability to document and interprete some of the cultures of Igbo
people, some of them which are outdated.
Chapter 1, takes a critical
look at Life circle events which focusses on Igbo rituals associated with the
birth of children, Initiation rites and Marriage and how it is linked to the
Jewish culture.
Chapter two highlights the
Comparative study of the ideas underlying Omenana and Judaism. Here, the author
explains the meaning of Omenana and its importance to the early period unlike
now when modernisation has eroded some of them. He also looked at Igbo
perception of God (Chukwu) where he gave evidences that indeed proved that it
is similar to the Isrealites perception of the Deity.
In Chapter 3, the author
highlights the rituals associated with dying and death in the topic Onwu na
Akwamaozu, the various ways Igbo handle the issue and how it was practiced by
the Jews.
Feasts and festivals
Issues like feasts and
festivals, New yam festival( Iri ji), Passover and Unleavened bread(Oriri
Achicah), Sukkot (Ima Ntu), Eke Ukwu/Nkwo oru(Sabbath) and others were treated
in Chapter four. Though some of them are no longer practiced in all Igbo land,
there are some areas where they are observed. Chapter 5, examines some socio
religious customs while chapter 6 takes a critical look at Abomination and
purification(Aru na Ikpu aru) as it is done in Igbo land and its similarity to
that of the Isrealites.
The concept of sacrifices and
offerings(Ichu Aja) as practiced in Igbo land is treated in chapter 7. Here the
different types of sacrifices in Igbo land especially those similar to the Jews
are addressed. Chapters 8 and 9 looked at Classes among the Igbo and the
socio-Religious personalities and authorities in Igbo land. While chapter 10 to
15 takes a comparative survey of the duties,. How do the Igbo people handle
cases of crime and other offences, irresponsible and unnatural sexual
behaviours, land matters, ritual cleanliness and Dietary matters in relation to
that of the Isrealites were also treated.
In Chapters 16 to 19, the
author bares his findings in similarities between Igbo and Semitic manners of
dress,Joining the Igbo and Jewish people and leaving them and the Igbo society
in general. Finally, he concludes with what he termed Thought- provoking
Phenomena, where he narrated some Igbo folk-lores, Igbo and Isrealite farming
practices and family trees.
The book can be described as a
masterful job with a scholarly attention to detail. It serves two important
purpose, first it documents the cultural practices of Igbo people many which
are already going into extinction and secondly it beautifully narrates the
Judiac rituals, beliefs and concepts as they are practiced in the Igbo culture
of Nigeria.
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