Nigeria

Information

CJC Vice Presidents: Yeremyahu E'yong; Arthur-Regis Odidika

Community Organisation: IGBO Israeli Returnee Congregation 

Demography

A subgroup of the I(g)bo people descended from the ‘lost’ tribe of Gad and there are now an estimated 2,000 to 40,000 spread throughout Nigeria.

History

The Igbo belief in a Jewish ancestry goes back to the 18th century, but when colonialism brought Christianity to Nigeria in the 18th century, many Igbos, like millions of other Africans, adopted Christianity and abandoned some of their traditional practices.

However, it was during and after the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970) that Igbo identification with and as Jews crystalised. Igbo saw themselves as sufferers of genocide, like the Jews of World War II in Europe. The Civil War and its disastrous consequences initiated an ongoing period of questioning and a small number of Igbo began to question why, if they were in fact Jews, they should continue practising Christianity.

By the mid to late 20th century, several Igbos began connecting their ancestors’ traditions with Judaism. Soon, these Igbo started to study and practice Judaism in earnest, abandoning Christianity entirely by the 1990s. News of the emerging interest in Judaism spread throughout Nigeria, bringing more and more Igbos to Jewish practices. This has split families, some of whom remain devout Christians. They face additional bias living in a country with significant separatist tensions.

Over the last 15 years, rabbis involved in organizations such as Kulanu have visited the Igbo Jews, bringing with them religious items and teachings. Conversions are carried out by Rabbi Gershom Sizomu, the (Conservative) leader from Uganda., and visiting rabbis from the USA.

In 2011 the Judaism Fellowship Initiative (JFI) was founded by Chief Arthur Regis-Odidika. The aim was to unite all the Jewish synagogues under one umbrella body. 

Community Life

There are three established Nigerian synagogues in Abuja, the federal capital, most of whose members are Igbo. 

There is a meeting every  Shabbat  and general meeting of  congregations all across Igbo state and community on the  first Sunday of the month among the congregation at our central meeting place Onitsha divisional library.

The Igbo Jews practice the Orthodox Jewish tradition: observe High Holidays; maintain the dietary laws and commandments; study the Torah and other Jewish texts; worship in individual houses ,rented shops or open space.

Chabad operates in Abuja and Lagos but they mostly deal with visitors and expatriate businessmen and have nothing to do with the Igbo Jews.

Affiliations

African Jewish Congress

Commonwealth Jewish Council