The Ooni of Ife, the paramount ruler of the Yoruba people, has made a startling revelation about the origin of the Jews, one of the oldest and most influential ethnic groups in the world. In an interview with a Nigerian media outlet, he declared that the Jews are not the ancestors of the Igbo people, as some have claimed, but rather the descendants of the Igbo tribe, a vibrant and diverse group of people in southeastern Nigeria.
How did he come to this conclusion? What evidence did he present to support his claim? And what implications does this have for the history and identity of both the Igbo and the Jewish people?
The Ooni of Ife, who is also the spiritual leader of the Yoruba people, said that he based his assertion on historical records, oral traditions, and genetic studies. He said that the Igbo people are the original inhabitants of Ile-Ife, the sacred city of the Yoruba people, and that they migrated from there to other parts of Nigeria and beyond. He said that some of the Igbo people who left Ile-Ife went to Israel and became the Jews, while others went to other parts of Africa and the world.
He said that the Igbo people and the Jews share many cultural, linguistic, and religious similarities, such as the practice of circumcision, the observance of the Sabbath, the belief in one God, and the use of Hebrew words and names. He said that these similarities are not coincidental, but rather the result of a common ancestry and heritage.
He said that his revelation is not meant to cause any controversy or division, but rather to promote unity and harmony among all people. He said that he respects and appreciates the diversity and richness of the human family, and that he hopes that his discovery will foster more understanding and cooperation among the Igbo, the Jews, and the rest of the world.