T H E L E M B A
Approximately 2,500 years ago, a group of Jews left Judea and settled in Yemen. They belonged to the House of Bubah from the tribe of Levi. In Yemen they built a city called Sena and were known as the BaSena (the people from Sena). Around the 10th or 11th century a major flood forced the evacuation of Sena and they were led into Eastern Africa. Once in Africa, the tribe split into 2 sections. One group settled in Ethiopia and the other venturing further south along the East Coast settling in what today is known as Tanzania, Kenya and further south to Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
It is estimated that the total Lemba population may approach 100,000. Although they speak the same Bantu languages as their African neighbors, many of the Lemba’s practices are similar to those in Judaism. Among their beliefs is an avoidance of pork and other dietary prohibitions in the Torah, they strictly hold one day of the week to be holy in a manner similar to the Jewish Shabbat and place a Star of David on their tombstones.
Legend has it that the Mwenye or Lemba could be he builders of the Great Zimbabwe, the legendary fortress in Southern Africa.
Of particular interest is the extraordinary finding of the Cohen modal haplotype among the male Lemba population. Its presence in the Y chromosome identifies a connection to the Cohanim or Jewish priesthood.
*The images in the gallery below were taken by both myself and members of the Lemba community.
It is estimated that the total Lemba population may approach 100,000. Although they speak the same Bantu languages as their African neighbors, many of the Lemba’s practices are similar to those in Judaism. Among their beliefs is an avoidance of pork and other dietary prohibitions in the Torah, they strictly hold one day of the week to be holy in a manner similar to the Jewish Shabbat and place a Star of David on their tombstones.
Legend has it that the Mwenye or Lemba could be he builders of the Great Zimbabwe, the legendary fortress in Southern Africa.
Of particular interest is the extraordinary finding of the Cohen modal haplotype among the male Lemba population. Its presence in the Y chromosome identifies a connection to the Cohanim or Jewish priesthood.
*The images in the gallery below were taken by both myself and members of the Lemba community.
