Black Jews of South Africa: The Lemba People

The article is devoted to the consideration of the Jewish origin of the Lemba people. The Lemba are a South African Bantu-speaking people who claim Jewish origins as descendants of one of the 10 lost tribes of Israel. Most Lemba are currently Christians, and a small number are Muslims. The Lemba population is about 80,000 people who live mainly in northern South Africa and central Zimbabwe, as well as in Malawi and Mozambique. Since the early 2000s, there has been an explosive interest in the history of the Lemba among scientists and the media, which was caused by sensational results of DNA research. Genetic studies were conducted in the late 1990s and their goal was to test the hypothesis that the Lemba people are of Middle Eastern origin. It was proven that the Lemba are of Jewish descent in the male line and their Jewish ancestors could have come from the region of South Arabia. The results of genetic research have initiated the restructuring of the social and religious identity of the Lemba. The article examines the history and religious beliefs of the Lemba, as well as the problems of transforming their identity.

Lemba, South Africa, Jews, DNA test, identity