Information AboutLemba |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT LEMBA | |
| african jews | |
|
The Lemba or '''Lembaa''' are a group of people in Southern Africa . Although they speak Bantu Languages similar to their neighbours, they have specific religious practices similar to those in Judaism , and a tradition of being a migrant people with clues pointing to an origin in the Middle East or North Africa . According to the Oral History of the Lemba their ancestors were Jews who came from a place called Sena several hundred years ago and settled in East Africa . According to the research of British researcher Tudor Parfitt, the location of Sena more than likely was in Yemen . The Lemba may have a connection with Great Zimbabwe . In recent times, they have established a Synagogue with their own Rabbi s. The Lemba have restrictions on Intermarriage with non-Lemba, with it being particularly difficult for a male non-Lemba to become a member. The presence among the Lemba of a disproportionate number of men carrying a particular Polymorphism on the Y Chromosome known as the Cohen Modal Haplotype suggests an Ancestral link to the Jewish population. One sub-clan within the Lemba, the Buba clan, is considered by the Lemba to be their priestly clan. Among the Buba, fifty-two percent of males carry the Cohen modal haplotype, which is found among Jewish Kohanim , or priests. The Lemba also have a large percentage of Genes often found in non- Arab Semite s. SEE ALSO
EXTERNAL LINKS
|
|
|