An Anthropologist, Prof. Peter-Jazzy Ezeh, has said that contrary to claim by some writers and historians, there is no evidence to established or prove that Igbo people in Nigeria or elsewhere migrated from the Jews.
Ezeh, a renowned scholar and Professor of Anthropology, University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) stated this during a Maiden Annual Lecture 2025, organised by Chess Conclave Section of Enugu Sports Club, on Thursday in Enugu with the theme “Igbo Origin ‘Facts and Fiction”.
Speaking on the theme, the retired don said that when placed side by side, Hebrew and Igbo languages, there was nothing showing relatedness as reported by some writers.
He explained that for one to claim that any two languages are related genealogically, it must be the case that lexicon of those two languages are coordinated and originated from the same source, sound and meaning.
“Hebrew belong to Afro-Asiatic language and when it comes to Nigeria, they have Hausa as their relations because Hausa is Afro-Asiatic along with 23 others.
“This is not assertion or belief but scientific as there is ample, credible, solid evidence. So, if belonging to Hebrew confers any advantage,
then it is to the Hausa.”
He added that some claimed that Esau’s wife was Ada and Igbos name their first daughters, Ada, explaining that if languages were related, the phonological similarity should also have semantic similarity.
The anthropologist explained that there were so many accounts of Igbo origin that were yet to be proved, revealing that they were not objective, because every creation story was by its nature subjective.
Ezeh noted that one author claimed that Igbos migrated from Jews as both practiced circumcision, describing Igbo’s circumcision as “right of passage from child to adulthood”.
He said that the situation had changed due to modernisation while Jews own was done eighth day after birth.
“Average Nigerian cultural group practices circumcision, are you then saying that all Nigerians are Jews?. So Hebrew and Igbo circumcision are two different things. One is a right of passage admitting you to manhood.
“My father told me he was circumcised at adult,” he said.
The Chairman of the event and former Anambra Chief Judge, Justice Peter Umeadi, noted that the fact about Igbo’s unique identity both in language and culture and dressing could not be denied.
According to him, they represent resilience, hardworking and forefront of development in anywhere they found themselves.
In a keynote address, the Leader/Captain, Chess- Conclave Section, Enugu Sports Club, Prince Chukwuemeka Onyesoh, said the lecture was organised to shed more light on the rich history and cultural heritage of Igbo nation by addressing misconception about the Igbo history.
Onyesoh described people without knowledge of their past history, origin and culture as tree without roots, noting that those who could not remember their past were condemned to repeat it.
Stressing that Igbos were organised entity, Onyesoh said “every igbo person has a duty to further insist on who we are by continuing to write and more urgently, publicise the proud past of our dear Igbo nation without apology.
“We need to be celebrating our past as a way of continuing to be who we were. We need to be doing some work in order to add to what our ancestors left for us. There are Igbo doubting Thomases even among our supposedly enlightened elite.
“As it is accepted, those who half-know and half don’t, are a major problem of world development. That is the very essence of this lecture series which must continue as long as there is the will and the funding,” he said.
In a welcome of address, the Chairman, Enugu Sports Club, Chief Ifeanyi Nweke, said the topic was very apt and commended Onyesoh for convening the lecture.
Highlights of the event include, question and answers, presentation of awards and dance (NAN)
