By David Dolan
DDolan.com
A British university professor says he has uncovered genetic evidence that a black African tribe living in Zimbabwe and northern South Africa is related to the Jewish people. Leaders of the Lemba tribe have claimed Jewish origins for many centuries. Tribal legend says that seven Jewish males left ancient Israel around 2,500 years ago, making their way to the southern part of the continent. There they met and married local African women, teaching them their biblical religious and dietary practices.
The Lemba tribe has many customs and rituals that are quite similar to those practiced by Jews since biblical times, such as male circumcision, wearing skull caps, and abstaining from eating pork. Professor Tudor Parfitt of London University spent the last 20 years researching the Lemba claims of Jewish ancestry. He carried out DNA tests on many tribal members and compared the results with similar tests done over the years on thousands of Israeli Jews. He told the BBC that while many people have characterized the Lemba claims of Israeli ancestry as far fetched, scientific evidence has now established that their oral tradition is based on fact.
Related Links
African Jews May Have the Lost Ark - NTDTV Lemba tribe in southern Africa has Jewish roots, genetic tests reveal - World Jewish Congress African tribe descended from Jews, DNA tests show - Jerusalem Post Report: DNA tests support Zimbabwe tribe's claim of Jewish roots - Ha'aretz Another Fragment of the Lost Tribes of Israel Found in Africa? - Arutz Sheva Lost Jewish tribe 'found in Zimbabwe' - BBC
