Now in these series of articles, we have named Tribes of Jacob, we will do closer investigation into other of the original 12 Tribes from The Kingdom of the Bantus in southern Africa. Now seen as the coastal tribe of Zebulon (Zulu also mixed, perhaps some with tribe of Dan and Naphtali), Naphtali (possibly Xhosa and or Benjamin, and also Zulu), Sotho (partly Juda and Simon) and as we see traces in this article that the Vendas and the Lembas, are likely to be of the Tribe of LEVA or known as LEVI. We see all of these as some of the long lost tribes of the pages of the Bible. Children of the Bantu. Lets dive !
The question is where can we find more of them? Well in short, His People are everywhere. Both Bantus and believers in Christ, as they come in all shapes and clothings these days. But anthropologically speaking, you will find members of the Zulu tribes (especially) everywhere in Southern Africa. You will also find other such spreads of Bantus over all of Africa and various Islands around the world. But remember there has been intermingling, like Xhosas and Hottentots (Hittites) and Zulus and bushmen (which means they pick up their customs as they take on their spirit/ beliefs). Which is a big part of why Ancestral worship has become such a way of life for a people that never used to have these customs before. Now that being said, turning to uMsindisi and making a devotion go to church, you might end up just as confused because of what they teach there. SO no wonder people are confused in this day and age. But let it be clear, if there is no focus on Scripture and turning from sin. Thats when you get - No Law, No sacred times and No sacrifice.
Now however if SoNiNis people convert and turn to uMsindisi. Then, just like with anyone else that comes to Him, his or her sins will melt away like the morning dew in the light of the sun. BUT rest assured when His People start to turn in the massive numbers. Thats when mountains will start to move, the land will cleanse again and the songs of old again be sung and known across the land. Mkhululi Wezoni ! Another grand topic is all of this, but we do testify that if you come to the Son (truly seek Him), your sins are remembered no more, THEN life will go from making no sense, to all the sense. Regardless of the church you go to, he will show you the truth, you will know it and it will in turn set you free.
Now back on topic, If we move further inland and up from South Africa and into Zimbabwe, we find the Shona speakers or commonly known as the Lemba from Zimbabwe, is such a people that has remember much of their ancient history.
Now the lets dive !
The Lembas speak a Bantu language similar and spoken by neighbours around, whom they also bear resemblance to. However they have religious practises and beliefs that sets them apart as they resemble the customs and practises of the ancient Hebrews. The Lembas will tell you these beliefs and customs was handed down through oral traditions.
Now, these Hebrews (Lembas) does not consider themselves Jewish in the modern sense (and rightly so) but descendants of the ancient Israelites. Some of their traditions which can be traced back to the Books of Moses are:
Not mixing milk and meat
Not eating pork
Circumcision
Six day working week, rest on the seventh day
Belief in One Creator
Endogamous - Marriage within their people
Within these clearly Hebrew and straight from the Books of Moses traits, there are differences. For instance, circumcision is of boys at the age of 8, instead of Hebrew tradition which is 8 days old. Which simply could be the result of a council and the loss of actual at hand Scriptures to tell them it was 8 days not 8 years. Or a Scribal or Oral lecture error. Most things go through song, as was most of Hebrew Scriptures passed down through songs.
Moving on there are vast stone cities the Lemba have claimed to have constructed throughout the souther parts of Africa. One of them is Machema, in northern South Africa, not far from where the Lemba people currently dwell.
Now where the dot is on the map to your left, is where Great Zimbabwe was, another topic altogether and will be dealt with in detail in another post. Another place which was built by the Hebrews, Lemba people to be more exact. Researcher Richard Peter Wade at University of Pretoria pointed out that it is the inscriptions (letters and symbols= on these sites, that demonstrates the connections between Great Zimbabwe and other sites such as Machema, these inscriptions show they were Lemba built. But this will be disputed in scholarly circles and discussion will get heated as either racist this or apartheid that, culminating in non-conducive theories about any historical research. We can even make serious academic arguments about the origins of Shona, which was a European word given for more than 13 ethnic groups. Like calling someone South African, hardly specific.
So as the story goes then many have speculated about Great Zimbabwe, what it was and why it was built etc. And racial theories, founded not to long ago, in a singular voice said black people could not have built these structures, must have been Arabs, Ptolemaic or Phoenician (even though all these people were black back in the day). White and contemporary historians would certainly not have allowed Venda or Kalanga, as purported builders of the Zimbabwean structures. These structures will be a separate post that we will chronicle in the not so distant future. Rest assured they were build by black Bantus.
Who was the Lemba then? They were known as Ba-lemba, Ba-soni or Va-mwenye, a black race of Africans who has been claiming for however long to be a long lost tribe of ancient Israel. The Lembas insist that their ancestors are descendants from the ancient Israelites or more specifically from the people of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who would be their blood relatives. These Lemba also claim priestly descent from the Biblical Aaron the brother of Moses, they would be from the priestly tribe of Levi today. Now their claims do not reflect with the information on this site of Ancient Israel being in the area today known as South-Africa, they claim to be a branch of ancient Yemenite Jews from a place (not the Biblical) called Senna. However, history as we know does not reflect the same areas as they truly were back in the day.
Now Lembas (perhaps to their detriment) like many other African tribes, pass down their history orally from Generation to Generation. The oral story of the Lemba (often in the form of a song) says they were led out of the Holy Land (Judea / Ancient Israel) by a high priest called Bhuba, where they settled in ancient Yemen (possibly Tanzania or close to Ancient Samaria, but there is also a Samaria in Namibia perhaps land of Midian) were they then built the city of Senna. "Guided by a star sent by God" they wandered to Ethiopia, then (apparently) Mozambique (which is most likely the area they fled to from South Africa), then perhaps Tanzania, Malawi, Kenya, Southern Zimbabwe and South Africa (their history recalls). In these places were they migrated they lived among the gentiles in peace, their history says. It was called Ophir back in the day, today known as Zimbabwe were they helped construct the great stone structures and areas today known as Great Zimbabwe. These structures has captivated archeologist and historians for centuries, and asking questions like who built them, how could they build things like this, etc. For the ancient Israelites building was known to them as they constructed many cities and the Temple of Solomon, they knew their way around stone. On a hilltop the Lemba built a new place to worship SoNiNi that had now changed His name to Mwali (Mwari), the Creator of all things.
The Lemba people, with a tribal totem of an elephant inside the six-pointed Star of Ramphan (Yes not the Star of David), live like most their neighbouring African tribes however they observe certain customs uniquely connected to the ancient Israelites. AS we previously discussed they follow strict dietary rules laid down by Moses, kosher like restrictions when it comes to diet and draining an animal of blood before fit for consumption, clean and unclean animals, strict rules against intermarriage, avoidance of pork and meat from unclean animals (like Hippo and Lion), eating only fish with scales, avoiding to mix milk and meat (a trait inherited from modern Jews as Scripture debunks this). They also adhere to religious practise including a seven day Sabbath with prayer shawls.
The Lembas say they have for as long as they remember always followed the Old Testament, but when the colonialists came they missionaries forced them to study the New Testament. They insisted on reading it to obtain a proper Christian education, which have had different outcomes for sure. So what does the modern scholar say about all this? Well, the came to the conclusions that the Lemba acquired their practises WHEN the white man came and taught them about the Hebrew Bible, genetics studies will however (wether accurate or not) tells a different tale when identifying a unique DNA sequence called kohanim, a marker of the Jewish priests who really was descended from Aaron, Moses brother. Now the Lemba practise Hebraism, and not at all what is today recognised as Judaism by the west, since they adhere to a large amount of cultural practises largely dependent on extra Biblical passages and interpretations (Midrash, Talmud).
The Lembas restrictions of intermarriage with non-Lemba people has made it very difficult for a male non-Lemba to become a part of that group, as Lemba women were forbidden to marry outside the tribe. (Keeping the lineage clean, which was surely the intent of SoNiNi, before Christ was to be born). So Then one could only be Lemba by birth in the early days, but is now no longer the case as a Lemba man can convert a non-Lemba to their customs. A non-Lemba man who wishes to marry a Lemba woman can undergo circumcision and a rite of purification.
Now what sets these Lemba people apart, are not their claims of being from the Biblical 12 tribes of Israel, but some of the DNA research that points these Lemba as having links to Bantu (African, Yemen (Arab), Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jews. So historically, as this site tries to tie the Lemba people to Southern Africa, not more up towards the Middle East - the desert is not the promised land.
Now a team of geneticists from The Centre for Genetic Anthropology at University College London went out and actively looked for a genetic comparison of the Lembas claim to be of Jewish Heritage. They used a particular series of genetic markers on the Y chromosome of Lemba males then compared to other groups whom Lemba might have shared a common ancestor in ancient times. Now the study found that a staggering 53,8% of a clan within the Lemba (Bhuba Clan), carried this unique DNA Y chromosomal haplotype found within modern Jewish priests called the Kohen (Cohen, kingly gene if you will).
Now, turn this on its head, because they looked for a common ancestor and traced it out of Africa, what if the Lembas are the remains of the ancestor. Not the remains that again fled to modern Yemen or Arabic speaking countries, they compared the gene too, but rather there will be much more of this Cohanim gene in Southern Africa, where the 12 Tribes are still to this day. The Genetical findings are revolutionary still, as they point out evidence that the historical narrative makes no sense as to the 12 Tribes of Israel and how they ended up in Zimbabwe Africa.
Looking at the map on the right, we see a spread of Venda (Lembas) in the northern parts of South Africa, which would have been consistent with Levi settling on the East side of Jordan. Below we see spreadings of Zulu and Xhosa, on the West side of Jordan, all conclusive with Scripture.
Now initially we wanted to go through all this DNA chromosome research, which is certainly a very interesting topic concerning the Kohen genetic signature, absent in one people but present in another. This Certainly makes for an interesting case study, HOWEVER we look at the root of this research, we find it to be to contemporary and at a deeper look - it has the makings of a rather sinister nature. At least the way genetics (as a scientific skill) seems to be more of a prison of mans thoughts, meaning you must abide within your genetics etc. They set limits to a person. A believer will tell you that Christ will smash mans DNA research and create in you a new heart, both in the physical realm and the spiritual (way more important). A new being.... ! Now DNA sequencing and this research, will likely create Giants walking the earth again. Just like in the days of Noah (Nowa). So these researches that could be used for good are going to be used for evil. Giving birth to bad bad things in the Spirit and on earth.
Now that being said, the Lembas DNA carry a higher concentration of the priestly DNA, found in European and American Jewish people (Kohen haplotype). Meaning they are more Jewish... Well, certainly IF these are of the Tribe of Levi and descendants of Aron, they will have differences in their DNA. But to compare them to the people living in the Middle East, should not be theme if you believe that The Promised Land was in Southern Africa. THEN people should rather be looking at the DNA of people still in the Land, and comparing them to people outside the Land. Not the other way around.
The discovery of the common DNA sequences comes from US, modern Israel and England. This should tell you the root and tree of whence the research come about, is not a good tree. Bad tree = bad fruit. Now the appearance of the Kohen DNA sequence gives the Lemba a claim for Jewishness, but is it a claim to the true Tribes in the Land (Southern Africa) or is it a claim to the Jewish people in the wrong lands? Other questions we should be asking, How thin is the blood of Levi by now? Would Levi not know the Law, would he not remember the Sabbath? Would Levi not resist Immanuel and maintain Temple worship? Would he not in the last days fall victim to his own arrogance and deny His Creator?
Looking into the DNA sequences again, we see that a particular part of the Lembas, the Bhuba clan, shows a frequency among the males of 53,4% claim of Jewish ancestry... Now is this a claim from the Bhuba clan to the Jewish people in the Middle East, OR is it a claim from the People of the Middle East to have somewhat of a link to the Tribe of Levi (and his remnants) ? So you see this research can go both ways, as one does not necessarily come from the other.
In these test however, of Lemba and Venda Tribes (specifically) and among the Bhuba clan, the Y chromosome called Cohen Modal Haplotype keeps coming back (the kingly gene). It feature so much so that either the Lembas and Vendas truly are a remnant of Levi or at the very least they wold have feature in the Temple of Jerusalem, during Christi time on earth.
And getting close to the end now we will say that of all the People Immanuel our Saviour spent His time and words on, the Priests in the Temple was given a tirade as long as any - to just one particular people in. He said WOE TO YOU, Scribes and Pharasees (Tribes of Levi and others). And imagine the sound in Christ voice as He would plead with them to reason with Him, you can also count the amount of times he does say WOE to you.... (Matthew 23):
23 Then Immanuel said to the crowds and to his disciples,
2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; 3 therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. 6 They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, 7 and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. 9 And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father—the one in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah.
11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.
13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. For you do not go in yourselves, and when others are going in, you stop them. 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cross sea and land to make a single convert, and you make the new convert twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.
16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the sanctuary is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gold of the sanctuary is bound by the oath.’ 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the sanctuary that has made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, ‘Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gift that is on the altar is bound by the oath.’ 19 How blind you are! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So whoever swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it; 21 and whoever swears by the sanctuary, swears by it and by the one who dwells in it; 22 and whoever swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by the one who is seated upon it.
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth. 28 So you also on the outside look righteous to others, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous, 30 and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 Thus you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your ancestors. 33 You snakes, you brood of vipers! How can you escape being sentenced to hell? 34 Therefore I send you prophets, sages, and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town, 35 so that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Truly I tell you, all this will come upon this generation.
37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 38 See, your house is left to you, desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of SoNiNi.’”