African Judaism in context

Intro:

There are at least three African groups, sponsored and assisted by the Kulanu organization, that appeared to have embraced modern Judaism. I do not include the Ethiopians who have a Jewish tradition going back centuries. I may compare and contrast to movements in the African Diaspora, such as the Hebrew Israelites. These the Abuyadaya in Uganda, Twi members of the Sefwi region, and members of the Nigerian Igbo.

Of these, the Abayudaya have the longest Jewish history, beginning as a small sect following a charismatic leader, who rejected Christianity following his political displacement by the Christian British colonial officials. (See this article for the story, as well as an detailed insight into the interection between religioni and colonial politics).

They attempted to follow Biblical Judaism as per their understanding of the Old Testament. In the 1990s they reached Kulanu, the organization largely responsible for raising awareness amongst American Jews about these African communities, with the hope of practicing normative "Rabbinic" Judaism and becoming part of the larger Jewish people.

The Sefwi residents, also previously Christian, go back to a leader in the 1970's (personal communication from a community member)who had a vision that he was an Israelite and that he should return to his roots. The Igbos are even more recent, although the first suggestion that they may be of Hebraic persuasion appeared in the 1970's as well (see the book The Igbo: Jews in Africa? by Igbo-Jewish activist Remy Ilona). Upon checking the Kulanu website the other day, I notice the Rwanda Tutsis appear to be jumping on the bandwagon as well. And during a trip to Masai territory in East Africa, I was told by a (Christian) community leader that the "Masai are the children of Israel".

American Jewish multicultural initiatives have embraced these as their own.

Members of the conservative movement in particular has been especially involved in outreach to the Abayudaya, sending a bet din to Uganda, arranging for halachic conversions and ordaining one of its members as a Rabbi. Beyond sending teachers, Kulanu has also engaged in financial sponsorship of the communities development, sometimes involving other communities in their development and income generation efforts which offers the Abayudaya a leadership role in the area. They are also engaged in a smaller income generation project in Sefwi.

(I've also read a bit about the same dynamic going on amongst the Bnei Menashe community of India, an indigenous Asian people originally proselytized to evangelical christianity. Since somebody had a vision in 1951, they been claiming Israelite roots. They made connections with the Amishav movement of Israel and were being converted and brought to Israel until the Indian government objected to the proselytization of its citizens).

Jewish visitors to some of these communities wax eloquent (many accounts included on the Kulanu website) on how devout and heartfelt, these communities Jewish practice is, how they are moved by the devotion, sincerity and sense of authenticity. They point excitedly to remnants of supposed "Hebrew" practices, no matter how farfetched, eg circumcision which is ubiqitious throughout Africa, or a history of animal sacrifices in pre-colonial times, and enthusiastically proclaim to have found their long lost brothers and point to a rosy future for an intercultural multiracial, new face of Judaism.

Yet for all these detailed reports about sabbath dinners and wedding ceremonies, the background context of these developments is sorely missing which is, of course, African Christianity, although it is very hard to ignore the tremendous influence of Christianity in shaping African communities. In fact, it is clear that the very introduction of Judaism arrived via Christian missionaries, yet Christianity is barely mentioned except as a historical bynote, not as an influential force and encompassing context for these developments.

The devout religiosity displayed by the African Jews, may be seem more authentically "Jewish" to those accustomed to the typical staid liberal American shul. But the devotion is hardly unique to Jews. Even a casual visitor like myself in Africa can not help but be struck by the devout, in-your-face influence of Christianity.

On Sundays, churches warble with African hymns to Jesus. Street signs and small shops contain the names of god and biblical phrases "God's Glory Convenience Store" or some such. The devotees can not always explain their fervor in logical terms- Many young man aspires to be a preacher, claiming himself "called." Men as well as women claim "he called me" as the reason for their adoption of Christianity. Tribal religions are largely displaced; practiced by a small minority. In places like Nigeria, Christianity has been around for generations, so much so that to many it is as essential even to their identity as Igbos (personal communication by Igbo friend). In other areas it is much more recent.

Regardless, the history of Christianity as introduced by missionaries has been one that has been opposed, for better or for worse, with local traditions, and has been strongly associated with colonial efforts. And while some African writers would wish to make the case that Christianity has BECOME an African religion, it seems to me (from my admittedly limited exposure) that Christianity is still very strongly associated with Westernism, modernity, health care, education and economic prosperity, in contradistinction to the old, "primitive" ways of living.

If you are a white person visiting Africa you will immediately be assumed a Christian. You will also immediately be assumed to have money, or if not, then at the very least you must be bosom buddies with people who are. You will be asked for money wherever you go. But beyond that, if you are befriended by one of these many up and coming wannabe pastors, you will surely at some point be asked to network for him with major American Christian fundraising organizations.

This is not to question the local religious sincerity; in fact in my opinion it enhances their credibility: Who would not love and worship the source of such blessing and prosperity? How easy it must be to choose it over the failed ways of the past. (The famous Indian chief Seattle himself converted to Christianity after witnessing his old world lost.... I visited the place where he is buried in a churchyard cemetery, having chosen the name "NOAH" for himself).

So regarding Africans (Or Asians for that matter) pursuing Judaism, On the one hand, I kind of respect this resistance to the Christian Western machine. But on the other, I feel it is the same dynamic as Christianity, just manifesting in a different form. Why is it necessary for a Masai or an Igbo to imagine to be descendants of Israelites? Why is it not enough for them to take pride in being Masai or Igbo, in a history of a rich, indigenous African culture?

 . (For a classic depiction of precolonial Igbo lifestyle, see the classic novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe.)

The Abayudaya, on the other hand, are honest and upfront about their status as converts. But why was it necessary for the Abayudaya to abandon their Old Testament practice which they adopted one hundred years ago, and adopt Rabbinic/ Conservative Jewish practice? Their Rabbi, Gershom Sizomu states (here) "The Christians don't accept us as christians, the Muslims don't accept us as muslims... and now the Jews don't accept us as Jews, so who are we???" But why is it not enough for him to be Abayudaya? Is Judaism a collective sweep up for all non-Christians?

But in a way, Sizomu has a point. Because after Christian colonialism, what roots can he return too?

The missionaries may have looked down at the Africans for their primitiveness, but they still valorized the primitive culture described the Old Testament. Judaism then, is the answer.

Judaism is the primary competition to Christianity- in the heart of hearts of many Christians, we remain the source, the mother religion, the chosen people. So, though cultural knowledge and pride has been stripped by Christianity and colonialism, Judaism offers an opportunity to assert an alternate identity, but in colonialist terms, within a Christian paradigm.

But still, why should that bother us? Should we not be flattered ....more