Epigenetics and Environmental Roles: The Reality of Igbo-Jewish Link

Abstract

This paper aims to examine the Igbo-Jewish link which has received scant attention in scholarly discourse. Among the few major critical submissions is that Igbos of the South Eastern part of Nigeria, originated from Israel in one way or the other. Prominent among these claims is that Igbos are one of the lost tribes of Israel’ and the ‘Hametic race saga’. Epigenetic and Mythological theories will be useful in helping to explain the Igbo history, origin, migration and colour change. Findings show that proponents of Igbo-Jewish link have not to the best of the researchers’ knowledge, given a satisfactory explanation for the difference in the Igbo-Israeli skin colour, neither have they addressed in what period of history that the Jews migrated to Igbo land. The paper, therefore, attempts to change the old narratives which support the erroneous claim that Igbos originated from Israel by briefly tracing their correct origin with a view to lay to rest, the myths and speculations surrounding their identity. Much of what drives man to develop self and leave a significant mark in his society is the quest to identify with his true origin and in Africa today, the idea of westernization have affected the art of storytelling and indigenous documentation which has been an ageless tradition. Some Africans, based on their understanding view this as waste of time or impacting orchestrated stories in the minds of indigenes’ hence, they prefer westernized format of aligning with the Eurocentric view about the origin of the Igbos. The study concludes that if any one group came from the other, it would be the Jews who migrated from the much older Igbo race and not the other way around.