The Israelites of Africa

(A Means to Preserve the Oral Traditions)

by: Yahshurun Obai Agyemang (Brandon Coleman)

From beyond the rivers of Kush(Ethiopia) my worshippers, the daughter of

My dispersed ones, shall bring My offering." (Zephaniah 3:10, ISR
Translation)
PREFACE
This is a brief book of the Israelites in the African diaspora. After reading this
book you will know that Africa has the largest population of Israelites in the
diaspora. I am putting this book together, because I see an urgency of
history that needs to be documented before it will no longer exist. Our
Elders are dying off. Once they die the oral traditions will leave with them.
As the old African proverb says," If an Elder dies it is as if a library has
burned down." As you go through my book I will quote from a lot of
references to further your research.
Hopefully this book will end the foolish idea of calling African Israelites
Hamites when "African American" Israelites share common ancestry with
these people. If our brothers are Hamites that would make us Hamites too.
We must understand this true fact. Hebrews are African. Israel is really
located in Africa. It's culture is African. Let us not also forget that we
sojourned in Africa(Egypt) for 430 years. We were Semitic people living in
the continent of Africa. We need to stop listening to misinformed brethren
who are pushing a false twelve tribe chart excluding our people in Africa.
This is just as bad as the doctrine that all European people are Esau. How is
that possible when we have a tribe in Nigeria called the Edo who are
descendants of Esau?
Before we begin we must understand and know the true borders of Israel.
Israel is in Northeast Africa. The "Middle East as a region did not exist until
the 1800s. The original borders were from the Nile to the Euphrates.
"On the same day YAHUAH made a covenant with Abram, saying, I have
given this land to your seed, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the
River Euphrates"(Genesis 15:18, ISR Translation )
Let us now begin.

The Bani Israel (Sons of Israel) community in Senegal

"These Israelites are said to have migrated from Egypt about a thousand
years ago. Their lineage is from the Drame and Sylla clans. Today most of
them practice Islam but have not forgotten their Israelite roots. They have
a sacred tree in their possession that Jacob our father planted when they
first settled there. Within their culture are Hebraic customs that are clearly
evident."(1) "Yet, indeed, there are a number of historical records of small
Jewish kingdoms and tribal groups known as Beni Israel that were part of
the Wolof and Mandingo communities. These existed in Senegal from the
early Middle Ages up to the 18th century, when they were forced to
convert to Islam. Some of these claimed to be descendants of the tribe of
Dan, the traditional tribe of Jewish gold and metal artisans, who are also
said to have built the "Golden Calf"." (9)

Dougoutigo Fadiga outside the Bani Israel clinic near the Senegalese villages
sacred tree, May 2013. (Cnaan Liphshiz)

The Yibir tribe of Somalia

"The Yibir in Somalia is one of the few known Muslim communities

worldwide that maintains Jewish descent. The community is small and

tightly knitted, numbering not more than thirty thousand. The name Yibir,
also pronounced Yibro and Yahar, simply means Hebrews."(2) "Although
the question as to how Judaism has arrived to Somalia has not been
previously researched, certain Yibir cultural features seem to indicate that
the community has branched out of an older Beta IsraelEthiopian Jewish
population. (As reported in Jon Entines Abrahams Children, genetic
evidence has confirmed that the formation of the Beta Israel goes back
approximately to the fourth or fifth century). Both groups, the Beta Israel
and Yibir, are perceived as outcasts by their host populations and are
associated with magic and superstition."(2)

Ahmed Jama Hersi Sultan of Somalian Israelites

Israelites of Cameroon (Bamileke, Basa, Mbo, Hausa, Bankon)

"Jews from Cameroon are said to originate from Egypt. In order to escape
the Islamic conquest of North Africa they were pushed towards the
Equator and settled in Central West Africa 1,200 years ago. The largest
Israelite tribe in Cameroon is the Bassa people of Douala in the Littoral
province. Most of the early migrants had built synagogues but there are no
records of existing ones in Cameroon today. King Alexander Bell who ruled
the Douala region of Cameroon in the late 19century was a practicing
Jew. His family is said to have originated from Israel and migrated to Egypt
and then Cameroon. His children are said to have been going to shul,
putting a yarmulke on. By blood, they have been Cameroonian Jews for
many generations. The dynasty of King Manga Bell has survived till date.
The kings are crowned in ceremonies that look Jewish. The Cameroonian
born Rabbi Yisrael Oriels grandfather is said to have built a synagogue,
now in ruins, of which his uncle had been the last gabbai. According to
Rabbi Yisrael, in 1920 there were 400,000 'Israelites' in Cameroon. But by
1962 the number had decreased to 167,000 due to conversion from
Christian and Islamic missionaries.
Other Jewish tribes in Cameroon are said to include Haussa, descended
from the tribe of Issachar, who were forced to convert to Islam in the
eighth and ninth centuries, and the Bamileke who are largely Christian.(3)"
The Mbo tribe is the father of the Bamileke chiefdoms Fongo Tongo, Foto,
Foreke Dschang, and Fondongela.
This of course would also make them Israelites. "Bankon (Abaw, Abo, Bo,
Bon) is a tribe related to Basaa and Rombi groups, located in the north of
Douala city, Abo subdivision, Bonalea commune, in the Littoral region of
Cameroon. The word Ban-Kon means "son of prince" in Assyrian, an
Aramaic dialect.
In her works "The Negro-African Languages", the French scholar Lilias
Homburger concluded that Bankon language is Kum. The word Kum
means "arise" or "get up!"in Hebrew; the Assyrians called the House of Israel
by the name of Kumri."(13)
The capital of Cameroon is called Yauonde which is Yahudi (Jew). In
modern times Rabbinical Judaism which is a stumbling block to many
Cameroonian Jews. Ashkenazi converts are pushing the lie that the
Cameroonians are converts and not Israelites. The same can be said in
Uganda which we will address later.

Photo credits for this section: Joel Abena Kono (Hebrew name: Aaron).

The Israelites of Sierra Leone( Temne, Mende, Mandingo, Kono, Limba)

There is a strong presence of the House of Judah in Sierra Leone(Lion
Moutains). As I write this now they are gradually returning back to the
Torah. The Temne, and Limba are said to come from the tribe of Judah
with a lineal connection with King David. The Temne practice Hebrew
customs such as circumcision, reverence of the Sabbath day, polygamy,
purification rituals,(4) and putting the Shema on their doorpost. " Temne
people wear skullcaps called the "Kalapra" which is identical to the
Hebrew skullcap "Kippah". Their prayer shawl like the Hebrew Tallit is called
a "Brenea". Traditional Temnes also wear the fringes, or tassels on the
borders of their garments. According to oral traditions, the Temne are from
the tribe of Yahudah/Judah. They left Israel after the destruction of the
Temple in Jerusalem in 70 C.E. They then went to Yemen/Ethiopia, to
Mali/Western Sudan, then Futa Jallon/Guenea, and later Sierra Leone."(4)
It is well known that the Mende, Mandingo, Mande, Mandinka are related
to the Temne and the Limba people. Some have said that they are
descended from Bilal ibn rabah who was from the tribe of Judah. There is
also evidence that the Mandingo and Mande could be from the tribe of
Ephraim. "In Mauritania and Mali the Moorish Ephraimites became known
as the Bafar or Bafour. This classification included the Mande tribes of
which the most prominent are the Mandingo who were also known as the
Malinke and Soninke."(10) The Mandan Israelites have been coming to the
Americas way before Columbus.
Most of the tribes came to Africa after the destruction of the Temple in
Jerusalem in 70 C.E. The Kono tribe has traces of Levitical practices within
their culture. Their language also has evidence of a mixture of Hebrew and
Egyptian dialect. Even though there is a strong presence of Islam in Sierra
Leone, Hebrewism is definitely on the rise bringing unity among the tribes.

The Israelite Assembly "The Congregation of YAHUAH in Sierra Leone" in Freetown

Israelites of Liberia( Dei, Krahm, Kru, Kwa, Dan/Yakuba, Grebo)

There are many Israelite tribes within Liberia. The Bodia among the Grebo
are similar to the Levitical priest. When he is a corinated, he is anointed, a
ring is put on his ankle as a badge of office. His doorposts are then
sprinkled with the blood of a sacrificed goat.(5) The Grebo, Kwa, Kru,
Krahm, and Dei are all basically the same people. They call the Creator
Nyenswah. I found this amazing. Nyenswah as he is called is almost
identical to the name of the Hebrew Messiah YAHUSHA(Yeshua,"jesus").
How would they know of him unless their ancestors encountered him. This
reminds me of the Temne of Sierra Leone who call him Nabi Yashu when
making sacrifices. The Yoruba of Nigeria call him Obatala. Obatala has a
story very similar to the death,descent into underworld, and Resurrection of
the Hebrew Messiah. This is definitely proves that one: the Messiah existed
two: his early followers descendants are residing within Africa today. This
also proves that the divinity of the Messiah is not a recent concept cooked
up by Constantine at the Council of Nicea, as some believe. The
Dan/Yakuba tribe is from of course the tribe of Dan. Yakuba comes from of
course the Hebrew Patriarch Ya'aqob (Jacob).

Israelite Assembly "The Messianic Congregation of YAHUAH"

Israelites of Mali
"During the 8th century, the Rhadanites (Jewish African, mulit-lingual
traders) began to settle in Timbuktu, Mali. There they established a trading
center from which they set up a network of trading routes throughout the
desert. More Jews began to arrive in the 14th and 15th centuries, fleeing
the Spanish Inquisition. Then in 1492, the local King, Askia Muhammed,
threatened the Jews with death if they did not convert to Islam. As the
historian Leo Africanus wrote in 1526: "The king (Askia) is a declared enemy
of the Jews. He will not allow any to live in the city. If he hears it said that a
Berber merchant frequents them or does business with them, he
confiscates his goods." While some chose conversion, many fled from the
country. In 1860, Rabbi Mordechai Abi Serour emigrated from Morocco
with several Jews to trade in Timbuktu. Rabbi Serour had to negotiate with
the local authorities to obtain protected people status. The newly arrived
congregation established a synagogue and Jewish cemetery in the area.
By the early 20th century no Jews remained in Mali".
"In the mid-1990s, however, thousands of so called Hidden Jews, began a
Malian Jewish revival in Timbuktu, Mali; many reclaiming their Jewish
heritage. In 1993, Ismael Diadie Haidara, a historian from Timbuktu,
established an organization called Zakhor (Timbuktu Association for
Friendship with the Jewish World). This organization is predominately
composed of Malians, descendants of Jews. Over the years, much of the
Malian Jewrys history has been uncovered; it was once concealed to
avoid persecution."(6)
"There are several thousand people of undoubted Jewish ancestry in
Timbuktu, Mali. In the 14th century many Moors and Jews, fleeing
persecution in Spain, migrated south to the Timbuktu area, at that time
part of the Songhai Empire.
Among them was the Kehath (Ka'ti) family, descended from Ismael Jan
Kot Al-yahudi of Scheida, Morocco. Sons of this prominent family founded
three villages that still exist near TimbuktuKirshamba, Haybomo, and
Kongougara.
In 1492, Askia Muhammed came to power in the previously tolerant region
of Timbuktu and decreed that Jews must convert to Islam or leave;
Judaism became illegal in Mali, as it did in Catholic Spain that same year.
As the historian Leo Africanus wrote in 1526: "The king (Askia) is a declared
enemy of the Jews. He will not allow any to live in the city. If he hears it said
that a Berber merchant frequents them or does business with them, he
confiscates his goods."

- The Kehath family converted with the rest of the non-Muslim

population.
- The Cohens, descended from the Moroccan Islamicized
Jewish trader El-Hadj Abd-al-Salam al Kuhin, arrived in the
Timbuktu area in the 18th century.
- The Abana family came in the first half of the 19th
century."(14)

Rabbi Mordechai Aby Serour circa 1870s - 1880s. Last Rabbi of Timbuktu, Mali

Guinean Israelites (Fula, Susu, Soninke, Baga)

Many Israelites migrated through Guinea after the end of the Mali Empire.
Many of them still remain there today. The Soninke, Susu, Baga share
relation with the Mande and Temne Israelites. The Soninke Jews founded
the Israelite Ghanain Empire. They and the Baga are said to come from
the tribe of Judah. These tribes migrated from the East before the Mali
Empire.That being the case that would mean that they share ancestry with
the Ashanti of Ghana,who also come from the Southern kingdom of Israel,
the House of Judah. Fulas are Israelites who some believe migrated from
Assyria. "Some believe that they are from a Semitic origin. According to the
tradition, the ancestors of Fulani is Jacob son of Israel, son of Issac, son of
Abraham When Jacob left Canaan and went to Egypt where Joseph was
established. The Israelites prospered and grew in population while living in
Egypt. Fulani people descended from them. After a long time a new
Pharaoh who did not know about Josephs fame in Egypt, came to power.
He made the Israelites work hard at slave labor. The Pharaoh oppressed
the people, including Fulanis who were rich in cattle. They emigrated from
Egypt, some of them went back to Palestine and Syria under Moses
guidance and the other crossed the Nile with their cattle and headed
west. They took the name of fouth or foudh meaning those who left. A
group from the latter moved along the edges of the Sahara to Touat-Air
and then to West-Africa."(8)

Susu people with djembe and balafon (photograph of unknown origin presented
at the International Colonial Exhibition of Paris in 1931)

Beta Israel and Beta Abraham of Ethiopia

The Beta Israel are from the union of King Solomon of Israel and Makeda
Queen of Ethiopia. From this union they bore a son called Menelik. This
began the Solomonic dynasty in Ethiopia. More on this account can be
found in the Kebra Negast (Book of the Kings). The Beta Israel were forced
to let go of the traditions that they have been practicing for thousands of
years so that they could embrace the traditions of the Ashkenazi converts.
Mainstream Jewry believes that these Jews are from the tribe of Dan. I
disagree. You can not deny that Judah is among them. we know Menelik
is one proof of this. Levi is also among them since it is documented that
Levite priests came to Ethiopia with Menelik.
"In Ethiopia the community known as Beit Avraham has some 50,000
members. This community also claims Jewish heritage. Several scholars
think that they broke off from the Beta Israel community several centuries
ago, hid their Jewish customs, and outwardly adopted Ethiopian Orthodox
Christianity.
Beit Avraham have traditionally been on the lower rungs of Ethiopian
social life and have held occupations similar to those of the Beta Israel,
such as crafts. Recently, the Beit Avraham community has made attempts
to reach out to the world Jewish community. They formed the Ethiopian
North Shewa Zionist Organization in an attempt to save their Jewish
identity.
Another name of this group is Falashmura. Without reliable proof of Jewish
ancestry, they are required to complete a formal conversion to be
recognized by Israel or other Jewish communities as Jews and are
considered converts."(11)
I do not agree that these people are converts. I believe they are blood
descendants of Abraham Isaac, and Jacob. My brothers do not need to
seek validation from anyone. It is amazing when a person from Africa
proclaims their Israelite heritage it is always stated that they "claim". You
will rarely hear about anyone challenging Ashkenazi (European) Jews
even though most of them are converts from the Caspian Sea. I have no
problem with someone converting to the Hebraic Way. What I do have a
problem with is when someone lays claim to our heritage when they are a
guest in our house. To tell an Israelite to convert to "Judaism" or take a DNA
test is an insult. We need to stop trying to base our Hebrewism on the
acceptance of converts who are not blood descendants anyway.

Beta Israel

The Lemba and Zulu Israelites of South Africa

"The Lemba are a Jewish people in southern Africa. Although they speak
Bantu languages similar to their neighbors, they have specific religious
practices similar to those in Judaism and other Semitic traditions. They also
have a tradition of being a migrant people, with clues pointing to an origin
from Yemeni Jews.
They have restrictions on intermarriage with non-Lemba. It is difficult for
male non-Lemba to become part of the community.
A significant number of individuals carry a genetic signature on the Y
chromosome known as the Cohen modal haplotype, indicative of a
Semitic paternal ancestry.
Amongst Jews, this Y chromosome trait is particularly associated with the
Kohanim or priests, a distinct subgroup of Israelites. It can also be found in
other non-Jewish Y-DNA Haplogroup J populations across the Middle East
and beyond.
Though the Lemba are descended from Jewish ancestors, they have not
practiced Judaism for many centuries. Although the vast majority of
Lemba, like the eastern and western Jews who see no difficulties in
claiming Jewish heritage but not practicing the religion itself, do not see a
contradiction in proclaiming their Hebrew heritage while practicing
Christianity or Islam. Lately, some have wanted to shift towards mainstream
Judaism."(12)
The Lemba are said to have dwelt in the Moab city Lemba. (Jos.Ant.
13.15.4.) I do not believe in the so called "cohen gene." Unless they are
digging up bones of the ancient Israelites and base the test on them. How
can you base a Israelite DNA test on European converts? I have heard talk
that they base the test on Jews in Tunisia, but I have not found any
documented proof proving this. I do not believe that all Lembas are
Levites. According to the scriptures Levi were scattered among the two
Houses of Israel. There has got to be the other Suthern tribes living among
them(Judah and Benjamin). Among just about every tribe in Africa there
has got to be Levites among them. Only the Levites were able to practice
the sacrifices. The Zulu are Israelites and rather the Lemba like to admit it
are not, they are related to them. The Zulu practice such customs as
circumcision, first-fruits, brother marrying the wife of dead brother. The
blood on the lintel of the door posts,sin offerings, and not touching the
bodies of the deceased are more evidence of their Hebraic origins. Some
believe that they are from the tribe of Gad. I believe that there is a strong
presence of Judah among them. I will leave that to the reader to research
for his or herself.

Zulu Israelite

Israelites of Uganda (The Abayudaya)

"The Abayudaya Jewish Community is a 100-year-old community of nearly
2,000 Jews who live among their Christian and Muslim neighbors in
scattered villages in the fertile green hills of Eastern Uganda. The
Abayudaya, whose tribal name means "People of Judah," trace their
Jewish origins to the turn of the twentieth century. The Abayudaya began
their journey to Judaism under the leadership of Semei Kakungulu, a
powerful leader who was selected to be a Christian missionary for the
British. However, Kakungulu favored the Hebrew Bible and in 1919 the
community began practicing Judaism. After Kakungulus death in 1928,
some members drifted away. In 1971, Idi Amin Dada came to power, and
banned Jewish practice. Many in the community were forced to convert
to other religions. After the fall of Amin in 1979, the remnants of the
Abayudaya community gathered to rebuild the community. Rabbi
Gershom Sizomu, grandson of community elder "Rabbi" Samson, lives near
the Moses Synagogue in the village of Nabagogye which he and others
from the community's early 1980s "Kibbutz movement" built with their own
hands. He was youth leader of the Abayudaya community from 1988 to
1998. Their goal was to gather what was left of the Abayudaya community
back together after the devastating reign of Idi Amin Dada ended in 1979.
Even though the Abayudaya regard themselves as Jews, they realized
that their isolation from the Jewish world was both dangerous and an
obstacle to gaining a deeper understanding of Judaism. Beginning in the
spring of 2002, at the community's request, Conservative rabbis joined
Rabbi Sizomu in supervising the conversion or "affirmation" of most of
Uganda's Jews in the community's mikvah, a process that continues
today."(15)
Once again we can see the deception of the Abayudaya being classified
as converts. These people are Israelites by blood. The Town Kampala
comes from the Hebrew word Palal meaning El has judged. In Ishasha
there is a tradition of 33 kings in Uganda that are descended from King
David.
Speaking of Uganda to the West of Lake Victoria and Northeast of the
Belgian Congo. It has an organized government with a tradition of 33 kings
and a legendary line that traces back to King David. It is a proud
history,the legend tells of the Ugandan people crossing the Nile centuries
upon centuries ago and subduing all tribes whose countries they traversed.
They claim the highest civilization in Africa.(16)

Ugandan Israelites

Nigerian Israelites( Igbo, Yoruba, Idoma, Akwa Cross People)

A large amount of Igbo (Eber, Hebrew) Israelites are from the tribe of Gad
descendant of Eri. You will also find the tribe of Levi, Zebulon, Uda/Judah
among the Igbo people. Many Hebrew artifacts were found among them
but were taken by the British. The British found the Shield of David among
the Igbo people. This is what inspired them to mint the Nigerian coins with
the Shield of David. The Igbo people have been wearing the Kippah and
Tallit long before they encountered the Ashkenazi converts. This is only the
tip of the iceberg.
The Yoruba people have a clan living among them called the "Emo Yo
Quaim" (Strange people). They are the B'nai Ephraim/Sons of Ephraim.
"The Bnai Ephraim (Children of Ephraim) from Nigeria, live among the
Yoruba nationalities. Their oral history tells that the Bnai Ephraim people
came from Morocco after the Jews were banished from the Iberian
Peninsula sometime after 1492.
They speak a dialect that is a mixture of Moroccan Arabic, Yoruba, and
Aramaic. They are known by the Yoruba people as the Emo Yo Quaim,
or strange people. Unlike other African Israelite communities in Nigeria,
the Bnai Ephraim have the Torah, portions of which they keep in their
sanctuaries.
The name Lagos borne by the former capital of Nigeria is a
Portuguese/Iberian name meaning the lake. Lagos is an Island carved up
by lagoons, swamps and lakes. Its traditional Nigerian name is Eko.
Thousands of black refugee Jews of Iberia re-settled in the environs of
Lagos and Porto Novo (as well as in Cape Verde, Guinea Buissa, and in
Sao Tome either as slaves or outlaws). Some groups eventually made it
deeper inland and became assimilated into one nationality or the other.
The Bnai Ephraim provides a living and irrefutable proof of this barely
known history of mass Jewish re-settlement in West Africa, between 1492
and 1692, a 200 year non-stop return of Jews to Africa. This set of Moorish
refugees are not to be confused with more ancient Hebrew and
Canaanite tribes that had been living in Nigeria and other African
countries for thousands of years. The Black Jew series on Rasta Livewire
deals with the relatively more ancient Hebrews of Africa.
The Bnai Ephraim did not settle with the Yorubas by accident or chance.
They recalled that a body of their people had depart Canaan in the
ancient times and had settled in the present day Yoruba areas of Nigeria,
just like their own group Bnai Ephraim had settled in Iberia (Spain and
Portugal).

So, when it happened they had to leave Iberia in a hurry to protect their
lives and freedom, those Moorish Iberian Jews sailed on their network of
ships to Nigeria Africa, near Lagos amongst the Yorubas, their relation by
blood, their greater nationality."(17)
The Idoma people are a small tribe that are closely related to the Igbo.
They have a rich Hebraic culture. Before British colonization they wore
fringes on their garments like their Israelite ancestors . Circumcision,
sacrifices, and paying a bride price are within their culture. What I found
very interesting is that if a man cannot pay a dowry for a bride he can
instead work for his future father-in law for his bride for seven years. This is
exactly what Jacob/Israel did for Leah and Rachel in the Scriptures!
Akwa Cross Israelites (Annang, Efik, Eket, Ibibio, and Oron) They are
members of the Northern Kingdom of Israel who left before the Babylonian
captivity and migrated to the Efik/Ibibio/Annang land of Nigeria from
Egypt to Ethiopia. The AkwaCross Jews, are of the Benei Yisrael.

Efik Women

Ghanaian Israelites (Ashanti, Ga-Dangmes, Sefwi)

"The first traces of Judaism in Ghana appeared in 1976, thanks to a
Ghanaian man named Aaron Ahomtre Toakyirafa. Living in the
community of Sefwi Sui in Western Ghana, Toakyirafa had a vision and
"spoke with spirits" driving him to believe that he and his fellow Ghanaian's
were indeed descendants of the Lost Tribes of Israel. He saw a clear
connection and many similarities between his peoples practices and those
of Judaism. For example, it was a tradition in Sewfi for Saturday to be a day
of rest. Such a strong tradition that Sewfi that didn't adhere to it were
frequently punished. Sewfi also followed the Jewish dietary law restricting
the consumption of pork. Members of the male community were
circumcised in youth. Toakyriafa was first viewed as crazy but over time his
vision became more and more readily accepted.
Toakyirafa's certainty about his ancestry only grew as he traveled to the
Ivory Coast. He studied the history of the population of Sewfi. The Sewfi had
traveled south to Ghana but had come through what is now the Ivory
Coast. He was convinced that the Jewish community of the Ivory Coast
had migrated there from other documented Jewish communities."
After his trip to the Ivory Coast, Toakyriafa began educating the Sefwi Sui
and Adiembra communities about their Jewish heritage. He taught them
Jewish practices and traditions, integrating Judaism into their lives and
preaching the study of Judaism to others. They called themselves the
House of Israel."(18)
The Ashanti are said to have migrated from Yemen. They don't fight on
Saturday(Sabbath) but they rest instead. Like the Hebrews of old they
marry within their own tribe. The Ashanti Israelites observe the laws of
uncleanness after child-birth, purification rituals, menstrual seclusion law,
and ceremonial ablutions. They also have a breastplate like the High Priest
of Israel divided in twelve parts, representing the twelve tribes of Israel.(19)
The Fanti tribe are closely related to the Ashanti Jews. I believe they are
one and the same people.
"Oral history had it that Ga-Dangmes people migrated from Israel about
6th Century B.C through Egypt, then to Ethiopia, having been expelled or
exiled by the Assyrians (Hebrew Biblical Revelations, July 2008). In Ethiopia,
they settled in the Gonder Province in northern Ethiopia, where the Blue
Nile originates. That is where the name NAI WULOMO, meaning, HIGH PRIES
OFTHE NILE comes from. In 640 B.C, the Assyrians attacked the
Ga-Dangmes again while they were in Ethiopia. From Ethiopia, they
traveled through Southern Sudan and settled for a period of time at
Sameh in Niger and then to Ileife in Nigeria. They migrated again in 1100
A.D and settled at Dahome and later, traveled to Huatsi in Togo where

they stayed briefly. From Huatsi, the Ga-Dangmes traveled to the eastern
banks of River Volta (know as JOR). From there, they crossed the Volta
River at a place between the Old Kpong and Akuse and established
settlements on the plains of Tag-logo where they lived till 1200 A.D. Later,
the Ga-Dangmes migrated to the plains of Lorlorvor between Lorlorvor
and Osudoku Hills. The Shai occupied a settlement in Shai highlands.
The Ga-Dangmes claim to be descendants DAN and GAD, the fifth and
seventh sons of Jacob."(20)

Sefwi Israelites

Congolese Israelites (Baluba)

Baluba means "Lost tribe". These Israelites are from the tribe of Judah. From
the Kingdom of Luba. There are many Hebrew words within their language.
They call the Creator YAH-Abe (YAH our Father). When greeting their
elders they say YAH YAH. Some Baluba even call themselves Bayuda (son
of Judah). They are a very strong and influential tribe that have resided
from their homeland Israel for centuries. Just like the Israelites of old,their
fathers bless their children before they die(Genesis 49). They also practice
circumcision and sacrifices.

A Baluba Israelite

Israelites of Benin
There were many Sephardic Jews that migrated to Benin. The Hebrew
presence is very obvious. From the city Ouidah/Judah and the Slave fort
called "Fort Juda" there is no denying the presence of Jews in Benin.

Fort Juda

Israelites of Egypt
"Egyptian Jewry traced its history back to the time of Jeremiah (Letter of
Aristeas, 35), but it was not until the conquest of Alexander the Great in 332
B.C.E. that the second great wave of Jewish emigration to Egypt began.
Alexander's successors in Egypt, the Ptolemid dynasty, attracted many
Jews early in their reign to settle in Egypt as tradesmen, farmers,
mercenaries, and government officials. During their reign Egyptian Jewry
enjoyed both tolerance and prosperity. They became significant in culture
and literature, and by the first century C.E., accounted for an eighth of the
population of Egypt. The majority of the Jews of Egypt lived, as the Greeks,
in Alexandria , but there were also very many in the ehora, the provincial
districts outside Alexandria." Ptolemy I Soter (323283) took a large number
of Jewish prisoners of war in Palestine and forcibly settled them as
mercenaries in Egypt to hold down the native Egyptians (ibid., 36)."
"On Ptolemy I's retreat from Palestine many Jews fled with him to Egypt,
where they found a haven of tolerance. Ptolemy II Philadelphus (28344)
emancipated the Jews taken captive by his father and settled them on
the land as cleruchs or in "Jew-Camps" as Jewish military units. He was
remembered by the Jews of Egypt as having instigated the translation of
the Septuagint (see Letter of Aristeas ; Bible : Greek translation). Since
Manetho 's antisemitic work was written in his reign there must have been a
fair number of Jews already in Egypt."
"Ptolemy III Euergetes (246221) was said to have been favorably disposed
toward the Jews and to have respected their religion. Two facts confirm
this. One is the number of Jews who settled in the nome of Arsinoe (Faiyum)
in his reign, and the other is the synagogue inscription dedicated to him,
declaring that he granted the rights of asylum to the synagogues (Frey,
Corpus 2 pp. 3746). There is also a synagogue inscription from Schedia,
which was also probably dedicated to him (Reinach in REJ, 14 (1902),
1614)."
"Ptolemy IV Philopator (221203) attempted to institute a massacre of the
Jews of Alexandria in 217 B.C.E., but was later reconciled with them (III
Macc. 56). During the reign of Ptolemy VI Philometor (181145) a marked
change took place. Ptolemy VI won Jewish favor by opening up the whole
of Egypt to the Jews, on whom he relied, as well as by receiving Jewish
exiles from Palestine such as Onias IV , to whom he granted land to build a
temple at Leontopolis (c. 161 B.C.E.; Jos., Wars 1:33). The Jewish
philosopher Aristobulus of Paneas was said to have advised him on Jewish
affairs, and he appointed two Jews, Onias and Dositheos, to high military
posts (Jos., Apion, 2:49). During the struggles of Cleopatra III (116101) with
her son Ptolemy IX Lathyros (11680) the Jews of Egypt sided with the

Queen, thus earning her esteem but alienating the Greek population from
them (Ant. 13:287). She appointed two Jewish brothers, Ananias and
Helkias, as commanders of her army."(21)

Israelites in Ancient Egypt

Israelites of Morocco
"From the fifth to the third centuries B.C.E., the Carthaginian gold market
was situated in Morocco. On this historical basis, an ancient legend relates
that some five centuries before the Carthaginian expansion, in the days of
Solomon and the Phoenicians, the Hebrews came to Sala (Chella) in the
vicinity of Sal (Rabat) in order to purchase gold in large quantities. In
another legend, it is related that Joab was sent to Morocco to fight the
Philistines, who had been driven out of Canaan; an inscription describing
this expedition is said to have existed near the present-day town of Zagora.
Wadi Oued Draa and the region of Oufran (Ifran of the Anti-Atlas) are said
to have been the sites of important Jewish settlements before the
destruction of the Second Temple. The earliest epigraphic evidence on the
presence of Jews in Morocco, however, comes from the second century
C.E. It consists essentially of inscriptions on tombstones found in the ruins of
the Roman town of Volubilis, between Fez and Mekns , and another
inscription discovered in Sal. The latter is in Greek, while one of the
inscriptions of Volubilis is in Hebrew.
Morocco, like the remainder of the Maghreb, was one of the favorite
territories for Jewish missionary activities. The Jews, together with those
whom they succeeded in converting, appear to have originally been
numerous and particularly powerful. The great Arabic historian of the 14th
century, Ibn Khaldn, names a number of large Moroccan Berbertribes
who were converted to Judaism prior to the Arab conquest. These were
the Fandalwqa, Madyna, Bahlla, Ghiyta, and Bazz tribes. The
capital of the last was also named Bazz or Qulat-Mlahd. It was
completely inhabited by Jews and did not disappear until the 12th century.
It was situated near the present-day town of Sefrou. Other tribes, such as
the Barghwa, were also heavily Judaized. Between 581 and 693 many
Jews were compelled to leave Spain as a result of the persecutions of the
Visigoth kings who, while forcing them to accept baptism, also adopted
draconian measures against them. According to later traditions,
thousands of Spanish Jews had settled in Africa by 693. It is told that these
Jews, together with their Moroccan coreligionists, plotted to conquer or
deliver Spain into the hands of the more tolerant Muslims (694). Some
historians maintain that there were Jews among the Berber-Muslim
invaders of Spain in 711"(22)

Moroccan Israelites

By now one should be able to put two and two together. Most of the
people who were victims of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade are Israelites. We
are related to the Israelite tribes that were discussed in this book. We must
unite with our people in Africa. They are waiting for us. My people in Africa
we are waiting for you. We must no longer fall for the Western lies.
I am not saying that only so called "black" people are Israelites. What I am
saying is that they were originally black and most of them still are. I am well
aware that we are scattered to the four corners of the earth. We have
brothers and sisters in China, Japan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, India, etc. Let us all
reach out to them under one banner: YAHUSHA Messiah the Word of
YAHUAH Elohim.

In conclusion I would like to say to all my brothers in the diaspora, stay

away from the religion of "Judaism". Do not conform to the way of the
Ashkenazi Jew-ish customs. Or anyone who comes proclaiming and
pushing the same doctrine. How can you convert to a "Jew" if you are
already one by blood? That is an insult and highly disrespectful. The White
Supremacy must stop. Our people have Hebrew customs going back
thousands of years. Remember we taught them everything that they know
about being a "Jew". Also the real term for "Jew" is Yahudi or Yahudim and
this only applies to Israelites that are from the tribe of Judah/Yahudah. As a
whole we are Israelites (Yisraelites, Yasharalites). Just because the
Ashkenazi are European does not mean we must go through them to
receive the Torah of YAHUAH. We must go through the Son YAHUSHA
Messiah. Remember the TRUE Israelites are called to teach the nations, not
the nations teaching us. We have a responsibility. Repent my people.

Shalom! (Yahshurun Obai Agyemang)

www.yahuahissalvation.com
colemanbrandon22@yahoo.com

Sources
1. Arizona Jewish Post Cnnaan Liphshiz, JTA
2. Ethiopian Jews in Somalia: Tracing remnants of the Yibir by Ibrahim Omer
3. Traces of Cameroonian posted by Nchinda Gideon
4. The Hebraic Origins of the Temne: According to Biblical and Oral History
by: Yahshurun Obai Agyemang(Brandon Coleman)
5. Hebrewism of West Africa by: Joseph J. Williams pg.83
6. The Jews of Timbuktu: The Washington Jewish Week,(December 1999),
The Jews of Africa
7. Jews of Africa(Be'chol Lashon website)
8. Jamtan.com
9. Jewish roots in Africa by George E. Lichtblau
10. Ephraimite Moors by Amir Ishaq D. AL-Sulaimani
11. African Jewry: A Microcosm of the Jewish Diaspora website
12. African Jewry: A Microcosm of the Jewish Diaspora website
13. African Jewry: A Microcosm of the Jewish Diaspora website
14. African Jewry: A Microcosm of the Jewish Diaspora website
15. Who are the Abayudaya Jews of Uganda? Be'chol Lashan website
16. Herman Norden, white and Black in East Africa , Boston,1924 p.248
17. Rasta Live Wire Website by: Jide Uwecha Iberian Jews of Yoruba
Nationality
18. The Jews of Africa Kulanu
19. From Babylon to Timbuktu by: Rudolph Windsor pg.130
20. Hebrew Israelites Origins of GA-Dangme of Ghana in Brief by: Dr.
Joseph Nii Abekar Mensah
21. The Virtual Jewish World Egypt (website)
22. The Virtual Jewish World of Morocco(website)