The Audio Long Read From the archive: The lost Jews of Nigeria
May 28, 2025
Discover the transformation of Nigeria's Igbo community as they embrace Jewish identity after centuries of obscurity. Individuals recount personal journeys from Christianity to discovering their Jewish roots, forming vibrant communities amidst challenges. Delve into the historical ties, cultural perseverance, and resilience of these communities as they navigate their faith against governmental repression. The podcast also highlights the complexities of identity and the community's struggle for recognition in a diverse religious landscape.
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Ben Avram's Jewish Journey
- Moshe Ben Avram grew up Christian in Nigeria and discovered Judaism through a healing experience and study in the 1980s and 1990s.
- He eventually became fully Jewish, founding the Ark of Yahweh synagogue, meeting Jewish visitors, and learning from them.
Igbo Identity and Judaism
- Most Nigerian Jews belong to the Igbo ethnic group who believe they descend from one of the lost tribes of Israel.
- They see adopting Judaism as a return to their roots rather than a discovery of a new faith.
Eben Cohen Learns Hebrew
- Eben Cohen, a Nigerian fluent in Hebrew, taught Hebrew classes traveling from synagogue to synagogue.
- He learned Hebrew from an Israeli family and studied through books sent from Jerusalem, showing self-taught Jewish knowledge in Nigeria.