In the past year, Jews have grappled with ideas around race, diversity and inclusion like never before. The Bush Report on racial inclusivity in the Jewish community, published by the Board of Deputies in April 2021, highlighted the false assumption that all Jews are essentially white and European. Having heard from voices in the UK about their experiences of black Jewish life, we now widen the frame for rare insights into Jewish experience within African communities.

The Igbo are one of Nigeria’s largest ethnic groups, numbering an estimated 50 million people. Like the Lemba of Zimbabwe, many Igbo believe their ancestors came from Israel.  The word Igbo may be derived from Ivri –  Hebrew – and their experience of prejudice and persecution over the centuries at the hand of other African tribes has extraordinary parallels with Jews in Europe. They claim to be from the lost tribes of Israel, and their practice is far closer to that of the Hebrew Bible than anything we do.

Looking at Igbo culture in comparison with Jewish culture, it is not hard to conclude that they share a common root.  Our speaker tonight, Remy Ilona, would go further – for him, they are identical.

 You can book your place via our partners at Jewish Renaissance.

Remi Ilona is a lawyer living in the US and a prolific writer campaigning for the Igbo nation. With over 30 million adherents, he does not seek Aliyah but to establish a second Jewish State in Africa.

Malka Shabtay is an Israeli anthropologist who has penetrated more than most into this secret world. Her film Finding the lost Jewish tribes of Ethiopia is part of a campaign to have the Bal Ej recognised by Israel as a Jewish community.

Full course details:

18th July: The Hebrew Igbo of Nigeria

25th July: The Abayudaya of Ethiopia