REVIEWING

REVIEWING:RE-EMERGING:JEWS OF NIGERIAJoel C. OkaforWHERE IS NIGERIA?Most Populous country in AfricaLocated-West Africa170 million(est. 2013)About 250 ethnic groups/LanguagesOver 500 indigenous languages

Federal Republic of NIGERIA

Nigeria-West Africa-Population-170 million(2013 est.)One Third larger than U.S State of TexasNiger River in the North Cameroon in the WestChad in the North-EastIndependence from Britain Oct.1 1960Capital Territory-Abuja(our Washington D.C)Language of Business EnglishOver 500 other languagesSystem of Government-PresidentialNN

NIGERIA-36 STATES

Who are the Igbos?About 30-50 million-DiasporaThe Igbos are one of the over 250 ethnic Nigeria Ethnic groupsThey live in seven of the 36 states of Nigeria, mostly in the South Eastern areaThe Sates are Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, RiversStateless-fiercely Independent Business, Farmers, ProfessionalsBackground To A Small Independent FilmIn 2013, the world was introduced to the Igbo of Nigeria as the newest Jews adherents. As some cheer, others question the authenticity Even preposterous. summarily, all wonder, what are the evidence?What lessons are carried in the film?, How seriously should such groups be taken? Re-emerging since 2013 Is still showing, but has been shown in New York, London, Boston, Toronto, Vancouver, Israel; Washington,Reviewed by New York Times, National Public Radio(NPR), Hollywood Reporter, BBC Radio, Village Voice, CNN, Discussed and debated in Universities and Colleges like this. Why Does Such A Little film Demand This Much Attention?Why should any one care about a little known African ethnic group and their declared desire to be Jewish? Why did these many Media outlets pick up the this story?How and why did the film enter public agenda?

We will examine what film reviewers/gate-keepers scholars, opinion leaders, and others have said and then exchange views here about the realities of all this.What have the movie reviewers said about this film?George Robinson-reviewer for Jewish WeekMichael Freud-Shavel IsraelOmenka EgwuatuRachel Saltz-New York TimesElla Taylor-National Public RadioReviewers Praise IgboJewsAll shower praise for the work of the Director , and writer Jeff Lieberman for fantastic creative work.Also praise the group for devotion and determination to keep Jewish religious values alive in the country.According to Lieberman, these Nigerian Jews were warm, welcoming eager for knowledge and contact with the Jewish world.

Movie ReviewersElla Taylor, of NPR, said that The Jews of Nigeria has done their home work, keep Kosher, light candles for Shabbat, sing and pray in excellent Hebrew, all with creative modifications and exquisite sense of that as regards their mostly Christian neighborMichael Freund is an American based in Israel, Chairman Independent profit organization says he plans to visit Nigeria, to look at first hand the culture of the Igbo and see how this compares to that of JewsAnother, Arik Pader, suggests that the Igbo Jews cannot prove that they have a Jewish grand father or grand mother Reviewers were critical as wellGeorge Robinson, observed that the films misses the opportunity to answer some questions, never offers expert historical testimony regarding the actual nature of the Igbos origins, except only the kind of folk etymologies that are unreliable.Omenka Egwuatu Nwa-Ikenga gave the deepest, and most hard-hitting criticisms, calling the group fraud, why?Omenka EgwuatuMany of the historical evidence presented in the documentary he suggests are not new and have long been dismissed by historiansBeginning with Olaudah Equianos narrative, dismissal of evidence from Nigeria- Biafra War in the 1960He suggested therefore that the group was using every Jewish symbolism available was to qualify for right to return extended to the Ethiopian JewsEgwuatu strongly argued that the group is perpetrating a fraud, they are simply looking for ways to escape bad economic times at home he concluded Competing Perspectives, analysis and ConclusionWhy has this issue received serious attention in the media and even in the academic literature?Both Jews , scholars and others have a responsibility to listen and examine what ever evidence exists.Claiming Jewish is very flattering for oneOnce the story was carried by one media organization, it conferred status, to the group

Competing perspectives analysis and conclusionThe Jews of Nigeria are now global celebrities, having acquired sympathy, empathy and even respect media coverage grant any one seen in the mass media.But every religion has a selective mixture of myth, memories, images and realities that guides its claim of legitimacy and origin.Christianity, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and others are very examples of these kinds of selective symbolism and claim

Analysis and ConclusionNo publicity is bad publicity.Jews of Nigeria have become an established global phenomenon helped by media publicityAlso, a short film of about 1hr. :30 minutes maximum , not necessarily professionally done have already made a lot of money, across EuropeShmuel the leader of the group who could not get a visa now has enough money to establish a Jewish school in Africa and make a lot of money teaching others how to be a good Jew after he becomes a Rabbi

Analysis and Conclusion

The film continues to be shown across North America even as no one knows much about this in Africa.There are about four books written on the phenomenon alreadyDebates on these groups continue in Colleges, at Oxford, Northeastern, North Carolina, Oakton and others. The cat has already been let of the bag, the rejected stone is now the main cornerstone. Next is a short clip of the highlights from the filmPlease watch and we will have time to discuss.Thanks every oneThanks to the following for putting together this event:Wendy Maier-Sarti Professor of History, Coordinator Jewish Studies

Credits:Dean Bradley Wooten Division of Social Science and BusinessDr Erik Mann Head Department of Political science

TORAH From RE-EMERGING

25Center Shmuel