I recently watched a fascinating documentary on this subject done by the American Public Broadcasting Company show Nova. There is a tribe in southern Africa called the Lemba that have been proven to be almost certainly the descendents of Yemeni Jews. There also seems to be a pretty good circumstantial case that the Lemba built Great Zimbabwe. Nova is the most reputable science show in the US. One of the most astounding TV shows I have watched in years.

Overview of the story. (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/israel/parfitt.html)

About the Lemba. (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/israel/familylemba.html)

About Great Zimbabwe and the Lemba's possible role. (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/israel/zimbabwe2.html)

Edit: added first link.

ive seen a show kinda like that. cept it said that Ethiopians were one of the first Christians.......

Do the Lemba look African or Middle Eastern?

They look African. Their migration supposedly happened at least a thousand years ago so like European Jews they picked up a lot of local charecteristics over time.

well theres the legend of King Salomon Diamond mines in africa...so.... who knows

Then I proclaim, the Lemba are Jewish!

lets base ourselfs on lagend..... rewrite history now!

YES! More Jews for the cause!

Proof of the Lemba's Jewish ancestry comes from studies of thier Y chromosomes rather than from legend. They went into it in more detail in the documentary. It is based on a Y chromosome feature found in a certain percentage of the Cohanim or Jewish hereditary priesthood class. It is also found in small numbers in the general Jewish population and is almost nonexistent outside of people of Jewish descent.

Among the Lemba this genetic feature is found among their leadership clan in almost the same numbers as among the Cohanim. The rates for the other Lemba clans are almost comperable to the general Jewish population.

They have claimed to be Jews since the the first European Jews arrived in South Africa but until this study nobody believed them.

No.

Originally posted by Inhalaattori
No. Care to elaborate? The genetic evidence of the Lemba's Jewish heritage is pretty convincing.

It just seem unlikely, but anything is possible. When we talk about things that are very old, there is no certain answer.

Originally posted by Inhalaattori
It just seem unlikely, but anything is possible. When we talk about things that are very old, there is no certain answer.

Are you doubting that the Lemba are Jewish, or that the Lemba built Great Zimbabwe?

Originally posted by Inhalaattori
It just seem unlikely, but anything is possible. When we talk about things that are very old, there is no certain answer.

There are many Jewish tribes in Africa. I heard that many of the Ethiopians are Jewish.