We Are Hebrew, [Igbo] First Born, the Inheritance of God: What Are You and What Is Your Inheritance [Part 4]

In this theological and anthropological research conversation, it is critical in this conversation that we pay close attention to the Igbo-Israelism and, Oral Torah existentialism found in ancient Igbo communities. Also as we approach this sacred project, I invite all, intellectual thinkers, anthropologists, theological researchers, critics and observers alike to please join me to a ground breaking seminar held at Congregation Kol Ami, 252 Sound-view Avenue, White Plains, New York, United States on the February 5, 2006, followed by another seminar at 70^th Street, 2 West Manhattan on May 17, 2006 respectively. In this dialogical conversation with Ehav Eliyahu-Ever and other experts on Jews migration into what is today called West Africa, let me remark that this seminar was one of its kind in recent history for me, particularly due to its depth and thickness. May I note that, Kol Congregation which served as the platform for this conversation, accommodates large classrooms for teachers, Rabbis, young people, children and institutional entities/groups that supports the existence of the State of Israel. The Kol Center is dedicated to facilitate opportunity that harness youth’s better upbringing for a better community, a better world. The significance of up-bringing and innovative training cuts across races particularly those of Jewish heritage. The center assist in strengthening the theological teachings based on Torah, sacred lessons of our fathers including father Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. As it were, this new trend was triggered on the new convergence—the return to Judaism. Ehav’s research concentration was on the teachings of Jews, causes of migration into West Africa with explanations focused on the sacred scroll, Torah for example. In the case of the Ndiigbo, his work rendered meaningful explanations, with simulation based on Oral Torah explanations. The Oral Torah accounting serves as an alternative to the lost Torah some 3,000 years ago, as a result of wars and persecutions against Igbo [Ndi-Hebrew] and their pioneers. Through Torah, ancestral teachings found in the five books of Moses charged Israel to be obedient to Elohim, be law abiding nation especially, on fundamental teachings of respect for the priesthood; respect for elders and respect for our parents. This practice is scripturally endorsed: “respect thou mother and thou father so that your days maybe long in the land, which, the Lord thy God has made and gave thee”. Dear readers, researchers and observers alike note that Ehav Eliyahu-Ever is a Civil Engineer of Igbo extraction. He lives in New York City. Ehav was the key note speaker at this great august gathering. 

To proceed, this writer has a confession to make. During my preparations for this seminar, I faced all kinds of challenges ranging from: difficulties getting to transit terminal on a timely manner; finding the location of the event since I have not been to that part of the city before; a landscape that is entirely distance away from the Borough that I live in. At about 5 a.m. Eastern-Time I was up. I boarded the Metro-North and got to the venue at about 9 am dot. I got there on time. It was my first time Hebrew seminar participation in White Plains area. Albeit, some workers at the Center were busy shaking my hand thinking that I was the speaker. Each time I worked hard to explain to them that I was not the speaker. I am grateful for the opportunity to be in attendance of this stimulating seminar. The seminar for the most part was elaborate, meaty, congealed with additional insights for our consideration. Enjoy it!

Shortly after the speaker and participants’ arrived, the program was quickly followed by introductory remark by the President of the Congregation—Co-Rabbi: Lisa Borowtiz, a member of Reform Synagogue, at White Plains. Ehav Ehiyahu-Ever took to the podium. With power-points presentation, archeological materials, recent snapshots from his various research-works and those of other researchers from France, from other synagogues inside Nigeria and the Middle-East, the climate was such that participants were waiting anxiously on the documentary trajectories about Jewish African pioneers, its wars as influenced mainly by the spread of Jihad with its attended takeover or occupations in what is today called the horn of Africa or North African-plate. These historical materials brought to bear and made it possible to differentiate certain stages, periods/times of theatres, including trade, commerce and exoduses.  For me, these materials in furtherance enhanced my understanding most exquisitely, with explanations—movements, egress when it comes to the world Jewry and—the return to Judaism. This project in itself is too huge to comprehend without some spiritual undertakings and concentrations. The mere physical intellect will be overwhelmed, depleted, immensely challenged without specificities, unblemished knowledge of the thickness and depth of time and space, thusly making difficult to pinpoint out exactly were to begin. Please forgive my inadequacies as this is a colossal undertaking especially with sacred works, challenged with meager resources to investigate deeply on the genesis of such a magnificent work, including Torah Scroll.    

Importance of Torah: Torah Emeth Me-Dor Le-Dor [Torah of Truth from Generation to Generation]

As hinted earlier, I am a beneficiary of this particular research work, albeit—it was intensive, extensive and expensive research work to begin with. Through this work, my understanding of the significance and symbolism of Torah to Israel has increased and deepened tremendously. From scriptural documentations referred to in Devarim or [Deut. 32, 36, Chronicles, Joshua 1:28, certain explanations backed with laborious examinations of the importance of Torah for Israel began in earnest. According to Ehav and others, instructions from the Holy Scriptures, including Arabian historians as recorded, unequivocally asserted that Moses was commanded by God to put a copy of Torah in the Ark of Covenant to teach and remind Israelites about Jehovah’s covenants with His people. This of course attracted some measures of conditionalities surrounding the promise land. Theological explanations show that Moses saw the promise land but was not permitted to enter it. There are many reasons given for this by theological scholars, including numerous misfits like disobedience and calling children of Israel stiff-necked people due to frustrations of their murmurings. During these many pilgrimages, backed with priestly leaderships, from Moses, Aaron, Abihu, Hur and others, these men worked, walked with Jehovah and many recorded and unrecorded miracles took place. The Lord instructed, trained these leaders, and prophets as they became His oracles amongst His people. Now, as the Lord pleases, influenced by events on the ground, there were changes in organizational leaderships, readiness and preparedness on the behest of approaching and entering the promise land. As commanded by God, Joshuah was set apart by Moses to accomplish the Lord’s mission and the final battle strategies were drawn out in other to gain full access to the promise land. Both military and religious responsibilities of Israel were now placed on Joshua and others. After several wars and accords signed in some cases, they made it to the promise land. Joshua was commanded by Jehovah to divide the land of Canaan according to the twelve tribes. Instructions: divide the land according to family heads; from firstborn or the most senior elder according to their rankings and standings down to the matrix-closure [last born]. According to other reports, each tribe was giving a copy of original Sepher Torah by Mosheh [Moses] before his death. Similar tradition is said to have existed and practiced by Samaritan Israelites who live today in Holon—Israel. According to reports, in chronicles, Joshua was reminded of Torah’s importance in section 1: 28. It was projected that Levites were divided into classes and each group or class had Torah given them as a guide. Essentially Torah was and is still is a vital vehicle for any Jewish/Benei Yisrael community. One would therefore conclude that any community that loses the Torah loses their way. From the foregoing analysis, imagine 3,000 years later, of pilgrimage from the land of our fathers dispersed or driven away either because of disobedience, commerce and trade, wars, the will of Jehovah or a combination of all of the above. Now, one can imagine what has become of Ndiigbo without a written Torah Scroll amongst them. It is apparently pretty clear that Igbo original Hebrew language was corrupted by the locals.  

Chronicles of the Igbo (Ibo) Jews

According to Ehav, the Igbo Jews of Nigeria, who some consider a community of "Yehudim Maghrebim" (North and West African Jews, note: Maghreb is Arabic for “west” and primarily is used for North Africa, and is not exclusive to Igbo) are part of the Jewish component of the Igbo ethnic group who are said to be descended from the southern and westward migrations of both ancient Semitic and later Jewish peoples from the Middle East into West Africa. According to reports, this migration it is claimed to have started more than 1500 years ago. It is believed to have taken deeper roots in the region during the reign of the Dja (Dia) rulers of several Songhai Empire regions in 13^th, 14^th, and or even 15^th CE.

Ehav, reports that according to the record Tarikh es-Soudan recorded by Abderrahman ben-Abdallah es-Sadi (trad. O. Houdas) one such community was formed by a group of Egyptian Jews, who traveled by way of the Sahel corridor through Chad into Mali. Another such community was that of the Dji (Dia) ruler of Koukiya (located near the Niger river), whose name is only known as Dialliaman (or Dia min al Yaman) also called as Za-al-Ayaman (meaning “He comes from Yemen”). According to local legends Dialliaman (Za-al-Ayaman) was a member of one of the Jewish colonies transported from Yemen by the Abyssinians in the 6^th century C.E. Dialliaman is said to have traveled into West Africa along with his brother, and eventually established a Jewish community in Northern Nigeria.

Photo #1: Remy Ilona (far left) posing with Iddao Ishaak Berber Jewish Anusim from Northern Nigeria

Other scholarly sources project that other Jewish communities in the region from Morocco, Egypt, Portugal, and possibly Gojjam Ethiopia made their way into West Africa via the Niger banks. Some communities are said to be connected to the Jewish Berber population like a group of Kal Tamasheq known as Iddao Ishaak of Niger that traveled from North Africa into West Africa for trade, as well as those escaping the Islamic invasions across North African plate and Mali.

This writer researched further even after the seminar for additional accounts to synchronize his work for added value, clarity and richness. According Maazi Nat Okafor-Ogbaji, former Abia State Coordinator of King Solomon Shepherd Federation, an organization working in tandem with selected world groups for the sharing of information and experience on Hebrew affairs. A proponent of the Igbo-Jewish kinship, the researcher cum historian is the author of Jews of Nigeria: The Aro Empire; Maazi Okafor-Ogbaji currently live in New Jersey, United States and narrated extensively on relevant exemplifying pillars of facts in his book and related issues to Igbo connections to Israel.  In his book he narrated extensively about the three sons of Eri; through his research, he shockingly presented words and meanings in Hebrew and Igbo and other relativisms. In his conversation with one Adaeze Ojukwu, published at kwenu.com on June 8, 2004, he narrated what moved him into this grand research, digging deeper with its relevance of his research to Ndiigbo as a nation. In that conversation, he began by prefacing one Parley whose famous book: Principle of moral and political philosophy states: “When a writer offers a book upon a subject on which the public are already in possession of many others, he is bound by a kind of literacy to inform his readers specifically on what it is he professes or he expects to improve.”  To him, this and many others are deep rooted research material for posterity, generational anthropological and theological works to examine further. Maazi Ogbaji reveals further information on this in a meeting with Israeli researchers sent by the then Israeli Prime Minister Yitshaq Rabin to Eastern Nigeria around 1995-1997.

In his remark Maazi Ogbaji simply put: “The research started when in1995-1997 Israel Prime Minister Yitshaq Rabin sent a team of researchers to Nigeria; looking for the “Lost Tribes.” We had a conference with them at Agulu-Eri (Aguleri) Anambra state and my research work could be said to be a result of that remarkable, motivating, and thought-provoking conference.”  In part of that conversation he deconstructed 3,000 years of Igbo pilgrimage to their current Igbo-plate. He expanded further by relating words and meanings in both Hebrew and Igbo languages as exemplified below.

Permit me to infuse additional column for number thirteen [13] for your consideration

From the foregoing explanations, there exists definitively identical language convergence- with similarities, fundamentally found in these two communication-vehicles, [Igbo & Hebrew]. Markedly, readers and observers must bear in mind that all these took place after 3, 000 years of pilgrimage, of wars, Jihads against Ndiigbo [or Ndi-Hebrew]. By application, Hebrew language was corrupted by foreign languages whether in Europe, Americas, Africa and other places. Maazi Ogbaji and Ehav constructions exemplified and attest to these orthodoxies at a massive proportion of remarkable interconnectivity of Igbo-Israelism. This new wave of Igbo-Israelism was triggered the current educational research of interests by scholars about our people, and our genealogy. Indeed, this effort could be strengthened further through theological and anthropological documentations, effective research work pursued with optimal enthusiasm. 

For example, Benei Gath: Igbo said to have descended from tribe of Gath ben-Ya`aqov (Gad son of Jacob), who was the 8th son of the Israeli patriarch Ya`aqov (Jacob). [Genesis 30:11]. Conversely, talking of their bloodline, it is believed to be traceable to Gath's son Eri ben-Gath. Furthering this position are genealogical explanations. It is believed that Gath’s clans comprise the Aguleri, Umuleri, Oreri, Enugwu Ikwu, Ogbunike, Awkuzu, Nteje, and Igbariam, etc.

Benei Zevulun, Igbo-Israelism are descended from Zevulun ben-Ya’aqov [Zevulun son of Jacob], who was the 5^th son of Ya’aqov [Jacob]. See Genesis 46: 16. This bloodline comprises, Ubulu Okiti, Ubulu Ukwu in Delta State whose settlement found its meaning in Ubulu Ihejiofor. Traditionally, it is believed that descendant of Zevulun named Zevulunu, according to another researcher, Maazi Remy Irona, on the advisement of certain Levite, married a woman from Oji, who descended from the tribe of Judah, and from this union had Ozubulu ben-Zebulunu. Ozubulu then went on to have four [4] sons of his own who settled into other parts of the region, including sons such as: Amakwa, clan in Neni, Anambra State, Egbema—from whom Egbema Ugwuta clan in Imo State emerged, then Ohaji Egbema clan in Rivers State descended, etc.

Benei Menash or tribe of Meneshsheh Ben-Yoseph [Menesheh son of Joseph], grandson of Ya’aqov [Jacob] adopted by Jacob through his 11^th son Yoseph [Joseph]. According to Torah, Jacob claimed both Menashsheh and his brother Ephrayim as his own sons as earlier on stated, [See Genesis 30: 23-24, 48]. Some theorizations believed possible lineage as Amichi, Ichi, Nnewi-Ichi clans, etc.

Solidifying this positioning, however, according to Maazi Ogbaji’s research works including his upcoming new book took care of major sectors of Igbo-nation, historically. For example according to Maazi Ogbaji, there are remarkable interconnectedness: “ The Eri includes the Umu-Nri, Aro, Ora-eri, Enugu-Nsukka area, Owerri, Ahigbo, Onitsha, Oru, Ngwa, Mbaise, Ika-Igbo, Etche, Ikwere, Asa who are of the Judah descent”. Maazi Obaji added that to strengthen the accomplishments insofar funds are needed. He remarked, “This however requires the requisite financial support in order to facilitate the research because of the scope and enormous work involved. It will also involve a historical and comparative analysis of the Igbo in at least five non-African countries, including the African-American, Igbo and the Gullah.” For me, it is imperative to emphasize that it is when we as a people know were we are coming from can we know our future and were we are going. I have said in the past and I will say it again. The totality or majority, possibly 90%, of what they currently call South-South peoples are our kinsmen. Indeed, these kinsmen, their mothers and fathers migrated from Igbo hinterlands to their current dwellings. Their parents came from Umuahia, Ngwa, Owerri, Mabaise, Egbema-Uguta, Enugu, etc. Our brothers in these locations know this to be true and can testify to its truthfulness. From this milieu, Maazi Ogbaji stated, “From the research, I have gathered astounding historical research findings on the Igbo and his immediate neighbors, I will fall to deep regrets on the mistakes of our past political leaders and heroes. At sober times, I am sometimes by reasoning and rationalism to seek to excuse their actions for exigencies and ignorance.”  There are plenty of available materials for further research work and if we as a people factually and spiritually develop a new doctrine of affection with all peoples of Southern Nigeria, there are possibilities that this will markedly lead to unconditional love, politically economically, and socially and appreciation of our Igbo-Israelism via research and educating ourselves and our kinsmen and women.  

Finally, according to Maazi Eliyahu-Ever, there are possibilities that certain Nigerian Jews in the Nri families may be descendents of Kohen and Levitical [Levite Priests] migrants from Jerban, Tunisia who were said to have left Judah and settled in North Africa after the destruction of the 1st and 2nd Temples in Jerusalem. “The most likely scenario is that the ancestors of Ndiigbo were made up of familiar clans of Israelis and Judaens who, for various reasons, left Israel before and during the Assyrian and Babylonian sieges. This would explain why their oral traditions contains the specific tribes these clans originated from.”  With current materials and research works there are excitement in the air, communications and exchanges of information in this area have increased amongst researchers and many more with exciting interest at large and among Ndiigbo, in particular. Effort must be geared toward encouraging them and getting them practically involved through studies, educational initiatives and learning innovations.

Activities of Hebrew Research and synagogues are spreading in Nigeria at immense proportion. 

Photo #2: Members of the Gihon Hebrew Research Institute in Abuja, Nigeria

For example, groups called Godians and Ibrim maintained much of the Jewish traditions of the Igbo Jews. These groups maintained the Jewish traditions that the majority of the communities lost over time due to their isolation from the rest of Nigeria society.

“Certain Nigerian Jewish communities have been making increasing connections with world Jewry through the help of Israelis who work in Nigeria, out-reach organizations like Kulanu, and members of the Igbo Jewish community outside of Nigeria who underwent Giyyur Khelqi (Orthodox Return Conversion) to the world wide Jewish community. Two Synagogues in Nigeria were formed by Jews outside of Nigeria, and are maintained by the Jews in Nigeria.” Markedly, this is an outstanding development something to learn from and share with others. It is important to note that Rivers, Cross Rivers, Akwo-Ibom States have some much at stake in this research as research work has revealed that 90% of them are our kinsmen. Therefore we must work together in this effort, affectively developing better understanding with our communities as well as development good relationship with the State of Israel and our God.

I have included pictures to assist with the understanding of this great work, return to Judaism.

Photos of the Jewish Community in Nigeria

Photo #2: Dr. Hudes with members of a local Beit Keneset

Photo #3: (From left to right) Gile Sule, Rabbi Rosen, and Remy Ilona

Photo #4: Dr. Davidson with members of the Beith Kenesseth Siyahh Yisrael in Abuja, Nigeria

Photo #5: Remy Ilona transporting Chumashim to a local Beit Keneset

Photo #6: Dr. Hudes's visit to a local Beit Keneset

A comprehensive examination of culture similarities definitely clears any doubts of skeptical minds, that ancient Igbo culture and traditional religion draw their origin from that of the Hebrew. In short, a commentator in his/her remarks in my previous articles incidentally remarked about the features of old “British West African Penny” which The British made at the request of Aro Slave traders is another example. The coin had the Star of David as a “symbol of the Aros on one side and the British Crown on the other, signifying the Aro -British agreement on slaving activities. For Maazi Ogbaji, I guess the question is “where else could the Aros get the religious importance of this Jewish symbol?” Even the same Star of David symbol is found on the present day Israeli national flag. In Maazi, Ogbaji’s work, with and from historical evidence, the Aro “Ekpe Na Mboko” festival is traceable to the Sadducees and the Pharisees of ancient Israel. The two groups share some common beliefs such as: Animism, which is belief in the existence of the spirit, is separable from the body. There is also reincarnation, which is a general notion of life after death; post childbirth purification of the woman; cleansing and purification (of high sinners like murderers, married women caught in the act of adultery, etc.  

The worship mode and methodology of both the ancient Israel and ancient Igbo cultures are very similar. The Igbo and Bani-Israel believe in reincarnation and both tend to rename a newborn, the name of his/her reincarnate. Maazi Ogbaji notes: “If one takes a look at the genealogical chart on page xiv of the book one sees that the second son of Tera (Tera – the father of Abraham) is renamed Nahor and Nahor is the late father of Tera who reincarnated in Tera’s second son. That boys name then would be Nahor Abraham Nahor. In the same way, one finds many such name recurrences in Aro and old Bendel Igbo. Names like Kanu I. Kanu, Ukwu C. Ukwu, and Ekpe O. Ekpe. Such first names are taken from the names of their grandfathers who are said to have reincarnated in these newborns. The two communities tend to hold such names preciously.”

That also implies that the word “Bani-Israel” is semantically similar to the Igbo word for “Amadi” or “Nwa-Afo” which Ngwa-people in present-day Abia State uses a lot in reference to the ownership of the land or being the true son of their fathers.  All these refer to the true blood-descendants of Israel. Therefore when we use the word Bani-Israel, “we are not talking of the Jews or Israelis who have access to “Ohe-Hadesh”- The right of return, but to all those of Israeli origin either by declaration, adoption, or laying to the Abrahamic or Jacobean circumcision. These are Israeli but not Bani-Israeli.” In fact when we say that the Igbo are Bani-Israel, we mean that we have the blood of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in their veins.

In conclusion, I appeal to the Easterners whether they are today called South East or South-South to mesh together for common cardinal goals and objectives building one family structure not only for the South but for the entire country. Again, all the governors of all the states of the old Eastern Nigeria, including Cross-River, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers states, Bayelsa, have a common stake in this new development. We must work hard to get this information out for our brothers and sisters who struggle with many challenges and difficulties today; sometimes many of these brothers and sisters out of ignorance, lack of education, poverty and lack of spiritualism are blinded from these explanations reach information. Unfortunately, while those of us who are educated are lukewarm to these works, return to Judaism, this attitude has to change if we are to make progress. Igbo-Israelism is our heritage; Igbo-Israelism is world history. May I thank the following individuals for their assistance and cooperation during this research work: Maazi Ehav Eliyahu Ever who communicated to me some the materials I used which I am grateful for; thanks to Maazi Remy Ilona, whose research work was quite tremendous and assistance, he is doing great work in Nigeria, his research work was a blessing to me indeed a gift; thanks to Maazi Okafor Ogbaji, for his great research works, interviews without which this effort will go no were; thanks to Jody Benjamin, whose translated Hebrew works from French to English was of immense assistance in this area for this piece; thanks to Maazi Jonathan Obikpo and many others in Nigeria and United States, an exciting brothers and sisters whose pressure and emails demanding that I get this article competed and published on numerous websites with global reach. Many thanks to Nigeria and Biafra websites that publishes these articles including excellent administrators at the Nigeriavillagesquare.com; kwenu.com; Nigeriaworld.com; Biafranigeria.com and many others. Is this the conclusion? Or is this the beginning of greater research work to come on the world Jewry including Igbo-Isrealism? I do not know! 

Maazi Carlisle U.O. Umunnah

Is New York based Freelance writer

Contact: cuu1_liberties@yahoo.com

May 2006

 All Copyright 2006!  No Portions may be reproduced for public use without prior written permission from the writer. For private use only, portions may be reproduced without written permission, provided the entire page and copyright notices are left intact with no additions, subtractions or modifications.

References:

Information for this article was extracted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Jew

Igbos, Jews in Africa?, (Volume 1), Mega Press Limited, Abuja, Nigeria, 2004, by Remy Ilona and Ehav Eliyahu

Wars of the Jews: A Military History from Biblical to Modern Times, Hipporcrene Books, New York, 1990, by Monroe Rosenthal and Isaac Mozeson

Jewish Communities in Exotic Places, Jason Aronson Inc., Jerusalem, by Ken Blady

Jews in Africa: Part 1 The Berbers and the Jews, by Sam Timinsky (Hebrew History Federation)

The Jews of Timbuktu, Washington Jewish Week, December 30, 1999, by Rick Gold

Jews in Cape Verde and on the Guinea Coast, Paper presented at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, February 11, 1996, by Richard Lobban

Tarikh es Soudan, Paris, 1900, by Abderrahman ben-Abdall es-Sadi (trad. O. Houdas)

Les Juifs à Tombouctou, or Jews of Timbuktu, Recueil de sources écrites relatives au commerce juif à Tombouctou au XIXe siècle, Editions Donniya, Bamako, 1999 by Professor Ismael Diadie Haidara

Northern Tribes of Nigeria, Volume 1, Oxford, page 66, by C.K. Meek

Jews In Africa: Ancient Black African Relations, Fact Paper 19-II, By Samuel Kurinsky

Jews in Places You Never Thought of, Ktav Publishing, By Karen Primak

Hebrewisms of West Africa: From Nile to Niger With the Jews, The Dial Press, NY, 1931, by Joseph J. Williams

Jews of Nigeria: The Aro Empire, by Eze Okafor-Ogbaji

Stigma "Gojjam": The Abbyssianian Pariah Orits, Guihon Books, University of Geneva, 1993, by Muse Tegegne

Robot  # 1 | 21.05.2006 07:55

We Are Hebrew, First Born, the Inheritance of God: ...Read the full article.

rollover  # 2 | 21.05.2006 12:12

Hi Umunnah, I was thinking that; is it only me that people say is crazy? And those words as you know will always come from the ignoramous among us. Recently, I wrote a piece on this site involving the Hebraic Bliblical myths and Yoruba Narratives which drew flaks from left and right. Perhaps you may not have read it. It is published in http://www.Urhobo-world.org I have also published there the authentic but brief narrative about EZRA in the Bible; a man who wrote the first Bible, he was Igbo. Our people do not (some) believe our authentic history. Sad. I commend you for the research. Please be kind to email to me at perewinkle2002@yahoo.co.uk the parts 1-3 of your piece which I could not find on this site. Though I believe what you advocate, I rather find it hard to accept the first born bit of the narrative. I thought it was Reuben. The Igbos I believe are from the line of Seth which is evident in Genesis 5.

Omo'nna  # 3 | 21.05.2006 14:16

Must these guys continue to ridicule the Igbo race like this? Nna, when will this nonsensical, inferiority complex stop?

pukpabi  # 4 | 21.05.2006 20:01

Omo'nna, Your Igbo hatred is so manifest. Besides, no sane person will say the Igbo have inferiority complex. Tell me, why do Nigerians hate Igbo? It is because they say Ndigbo are too aggressive. Inferiority complex, and aggressiveness to me are not synonymous. For ages, other Nigerians have always told where they descended from. Nobody called them names. The moment some Igbo people do some research about Igbo descendancy, they are called names. When I read or hear stuff Nigerians write or say about Igbo, I remember what Germans wrote, and said about Jews before the holocust. The hope of Nigeria survival is Igbo. How long will it take Nigerians to recognize that? Paschal Ukpabi, JD Michigan, USA

Vaya con Dios  # 5 | 22.05.2006 11:08

=pukpabi>Omo'nna, The hope of Nigeria survival is Igbo. How long will it take Nigerians to recognize that? Paschal Ukpabi, JD Michigan, USA Hmmnn?? What exactly do you mean by this statement?? Survival, in what sense?? :confused1

Maazi Umunnah  # 6 | 22.05.2006 19:16

Many thanks to Commentators & Observers - I just get off of work and somehow ran into your commentatories or I would say remarks and wanted to take some few lines to express my appreciation to all and sundry who have participated and have continue to participate in this conversation, etc. It is a sacred work for those of us who know. Most importantly, it 's a piece that is somewhat relevant and definitely a documented communication that will assist us as Igbo,Biafrans, Nigerians, Hebrews get a hand in knowing were we are coming from first, and be able to develope the capacity to know were we are going as a people. As you can see, there are scattered evidence here and there about these facts, documented-work in the past and presently on this colossal and intriguing project which is ongoing. We invite and welcome Igbo and other nations to work on their inheritance. Working on onces inheritance will assist us as individual and as a group to master our way from there it will assist us to know how to live, interract, respect, and appreciate each other more effectively and efficiently. I mean this is not done necessarily when there is something to gain off of it. But contributions that can be made even through sacrifice; also good character is required of us to build a virile, strong and fair nation. Whether anybody likes it not, Igbo remains Igbo, Hausa ramains Hausa, Yoruba will remain Yoruba, etc. Not until will respect these nations on equal cooperativeness, the chances of making any kind of headway will ellude us forever as a people; setting the stage for capitalists gatekeepers to continue to pillage and plunder the the land to depletion, non-redeemability. Dear Rollover - Many thanks for your remarks. Regarding other texts or works I, II, & III of: We Are Hebrew, I don't know why they are not on the main board of NVS, you may want to ask the administrators at NVS. However, it could also be found in Author's column session, i presume. Regarding your research-work in this area please don't give up. Continue to do your research-work honestly and courageously to the best of your ability everything is not politics. Nobody can define for us the identity of our fathers except us. Biblical evidence as examplified here show it, charts and archeological materials as here-to-for presented show it; linquistically the interconnectivity or Igbo & Hebrew languages are colossal and strong evidence even 3,000 years later. So don't be discouraged by your ditractors and enemies of God, lunatics. Remain in the zone. It's your right! Shalom! Dear Omo'nna - We appreciate your comments. However, documents and evidence here and there collaborates the writers disposition. Bibilically and archeologically their relevance are incredible. Moreover, if you have probblems with the piece, I would appeal to your humanity to send, and or craft contradictory piece or what others may call a rejoinder. Otherwise, you have no case and should begin to learn intelligence particularly on capacities that you don't know. The glory of God is intelligence, in other words light and truth. The Lord choose His people. All that is needed for a better society is repentance, righteousness and doing His will. Additionally, remaining steady, standing tall, with undeviating and uncompromising disposition will restore to us to our greatness again. it is only a question of time. A review of lessons learn is the only way to go. Shalom! Dear Maazi pukpabi - Thank you for your uncompromising and undeviating stance. I read your remarks from time to time at NVS. You are a great Biafran, a great Igbo, a great Hebrew-man, a Prince in Israel. Staying steady is the only way to go. However, I will like to explain to you that hatred for Igbo is not strange to me and should not be strange to you especially with all that Igbo is capable of. Igbo industrousness, commerce, trade and ingenuity will definitely attract hatred, etc. Therefore, i encourage you to stay in the zone, remain steady, standing tall for justice and equity is the only way to go. The God of our fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is a God that keeps His promise to His children. Igbo has the technical know how to contribute in this Nigeria-plate or in alternatively in its own republic or a confederate arrangement. They have done it in the past and will continue to do so now and in the future, either in Nigeria or in Biafra. For me, all that we need do at tthis time is to tightly cleanse the land, restore law and order, build sustainable capacities or mechanisms for effective and efficient organizational operations. Japan and the four tigers in Asia will be a child's play. Maazi stay strong and remain courageous for you are on the Lords side: the side of truth, justice and righteousness. Shalom! Dear Vaya con Dios - Thank you for your remarks as well. However, it seems Maazi Ukpabi hit you pretty off of your sit, thusly attracting your reaction asking for explantions. But technological and scientifically, evidence collaborates his remarks. Between 67-70 Biafrans or Ndiigbo built engines and machines and precursors, guidemissile-systems to operate these machines and engines and they guided them accurately. Recently, despite Feds suppressing laws, policies coded with jealousy against Igbo-nation their technological and scientific capacities have been delayed but not denied. Record shows that Maazi Ezekiel Ezogu from Owerri, built first made in Nigeria Car and Nigeria run fed refused in any way to appreciate it and they turn around to organize their cronies to steal the designer's models, original moulds for its mass production from the Ezogu's company's premises. So from evidences here and there, I don't think that Maazi Ukpabi is far from truth. I believe supporting indigenuous capacities and less dependent on foreign made capacities in all ramifications is the only left option; It's also the beginning and survival of nation, the bedrock for its nationalism away from capitalist suppressing international market economy and biased policies. Thank you. Maazi C UMUNNAH

Naija for life  # 7 | 22.05.2006 23:34

=pukpabi>Omo'nna, Your Igbo hatred is so manifest. Besides, no sane person will say the Igbo have inferiority complex. Tell me, why do Nigerians hate Igbo? It is because they say Ndigbo are too aggressive. Inferiority complex, and aggressiveness to me are not synonymous. For ages, other Nigerians have always told where they descended from. Nobody called them names. The moment some Igbo people do some research about Igbo descendancy, they are called names. When I read or hear stuff Nigerians write or say about Igbo, I remember what Germans wrote, and said about Jews before the holocust. The hope of Nigeria survival is Igbo. How long will it take Nigerians to recognize that? Paschal Ukpabi, JD Michigan, USA Ah, yes, here he comes again, the tribalist par excellence. The chauvunistic, deluded, tribalist throroughly bereft of the guile he thinks guides him in these putrid claims. The same tribalistic message presented as a different, but still fetid package. How did you manage to stuff so much rubish into a single post? The hope if Nigeria's survival is Igbo? What putrescent odium! The hope for Igbo survival is Nigeria! Without Nigeria, none of the tribes currently circumscribed by her borders, including Igbos, will survive! Nobody gives a rat's behind about your tribe outside of Nigeria. The only people who recognize the culture and humanity of Igbos are the same Nigerians that you relentlessly belittle. The Jews will reject you like they rejected the Ethiopians. The Chinese or any other group of people will reject any terms of interaction with you that does not cast you in a servile capacity. Nobody recognizes your humanity outside Nigeria. In China, Igbo traders currently languish in jails, some of them most certainly the victims of trumped up charges, but nobody cares because outside of Nigeria, your "greatness" means nothing. Where was you love for your Igbo brother who invented an automobile, but had no choice but to avail the offices of Thabo Mbeki to facillitate the production of his vehicle? Where were the legions of Biafrans when this brilliant son of Nigeria was prospecting for aid for his invention. Missing in action, that's what. It was a true brother, Thabo Mbeki, who recognized that all Africans native to the region between the sahara desert and the southern tip embody a fraternity that should compel cooperation and solidarity amongst us. So feel free to keep inebriating yourself with your encyclopedia of faustian fallacies. Keep salving your disgruntled self with delusions of Igbo grandeur. The ineluctable fact is that we are all mired in the same static and enervating wasteland called Nigeria that is slowly and gleefully constituting itself a vassal of the Chinese and other freebooters disdainful of the black race. So feel free to stew in the same delusional, inferiority complex-flavored stew of this author's concoction, even as the little indignities you experience routinely in your place of exile remind you that outside of Nigeria, your culture ain't worth a tinker's cuss. By the way, why are you still prowling these spaces? Didn't you disavow the NVS after a repudiation of one of your tribalistic tirades? What arrested your self extrication from this insufferable community of Nigerians? Why have'nt you repaired to Biafra Nigeria world or some other forum conducive to your tribalistic priorities? Was your attempt to seccede quelled by a coalition of Yorubas and "misguided" South Southerners again? Do be gracious enough to enlighten us, sir. And while you are about that, if it is not presumptiously importunate, would you be equally so gracious as to bring us the wondrous tidings from the El Dorado that you relocated to, the one populated soleby Igbos? I Thank you in advance of your cooperation.

Tony  # 8 | 23.05.2006 20:03

Naija for life,you know that it is not everytime that it makes sense to reply to typical subhuman black African slave like you.

Naija for life  # 9 | 23.05.2006 23:04

=Tony>Naija for life,you know that it is not everytime that it makes sense to reply to typical subhuman black African slave like you. Of course when you think you are saying something incredibly caustic like calling somebody a subhuman, black African slave, it makes sense to reply to them doesn't it? You could have simply used the time it took you to write that to address my questions. I mean, you had to reply to tell me that my post was not worth replying to. You might as well just have offered a rebuttal to my post!

rollover  # 10 | 24.05.2006 08:44

Who Is This In God's Name

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