Research has it that the Igbo’s are still struggling to be recognized as Jews by other Jews. In Abuja, an affiliate of Gihon Hebrews’ Synagogue expressed this struggle to Shai Afsai: “We say we are Jews from blood. We are now excluded; we cannot go and participate as Jews in any place. I make an appeal that we be recognized, not excluded and isolated from other Jews.
The Igbos are one of Nigeria’s largest ethnic groups with population estimates ranging from 20 to 50 million. Abor is convinced that the Igbo’s ancestors were Jews.
However, in order to gain more acceptance from the mainstream Jewish community, some Igbo Jews are currently adopting more rigorous religious customs. For instance, it is known that some Igbo Jewish community are assimilating themselves to the standards of Orthodox Judaism, so as to be universally accepted as Jews in Israel.
Although Igbo Jews claim that they are the descendants of the ancient Israelites, some people blame this to lack ofistorical evidence which would prove their descent from such a community. Some people believe that they also lack evidence of a continuous practice of Judaism which should predate colonial contact.
Some Igbo’s claim to be Christians calling their commitment to Judaism and their claim to have a Jewish identity into question.This has frustrated the possibility that the state might make such a determination, also the possibility that a Jewish denomination might recognize the entire community as an authentically Jewish one.
Some Igbo’s have illegally immigrated to Israel by simultaneously claiming to be Jews and Christians. The official administration of Israel have recorded a number of Igbos who were granted the right to travel in Israel for the purposes of Christian pilgrimage. These Igbo’s have overstayed their visas, and now they are illegally living and working in the country.
The State of Israel has made no official recommendations as to whether the Igbo Jews constitute a legally recognizable Jewish community for the purposes of immigration to Israel, nor is their legal status currently being debated at any level within the state. Although, some Igbo Jews who have undergone formal conversions to Orthodox or Conservative Judaism have been accepted as Jews on an individual basis under the Law of Return, and they have also immigrated to Israel.
From generation to generation, some Igbo have passed down various versions of a migration story framed around Jacob, a patriarch of Judaism. A lot of them says that Gad, the seventh son of Jacob, had three sons who settled in present-day southeastern Nigeria, which is predominantly inhabited by the Igbo. Those sons are; Eri, Arodi and Areli (whose names are mentioned in the book of Genesis). They are said to have fathered clans, established kingdoms and founded towns still in existence in southeastern Nigeria today. Some of these towns are; Owerri, Umuleri, Arochukwu and Aguleri.
