UGANDA: MOUNT ELGON JEWISH COMMUNITY

(15 Nov 1999) English/Nat

Uganda isn't the place one immediately thinks of when Judaism is mentioned.

But in one mountainous region of the country, is a community which has been practising the religion for most of this century.

They pray in Hebrew, honour the Torah and recognise Israel as the Holy Land.

But despite this, they aren't recognised by Orthodox Judaism.

On the rugged and fertile foothills of Mount Elgon in Eastern Uganda, lives the tiny community of the Abayudaya, or the "African Jews of Uganda" as they are more famously known.

The Abayudaya are neither part of the fabled "Lost Tribes of Israel," nor are they recognised by Orthodox Jewery.

They are Baganda, originally from central Uganda, who migrated to the east during the early years of this century, and who have been practising Judaism since 1919.

The community was founded by the legendary military commander Semei Kakungulu.

Through reading the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), Kakungulu converted to Judaism shortly before his death, establishing the Jewish community which still lives here.

In 1999 they number less then 500 in total.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We want the outside world, this world, especially Israel, we want them to, to have a connection, a connection created between us and them because we have been in isolation for many, many years, since 1919. Now if we created a relationship, I know so many things would accompany that."
SUPERCAPTION: Aron Kintu Moses, Secretary of Abayudaya Community

Today, the synagogue still has no doors or windows.

Inside sit a dozen or so male Abayudaya praying, and reciting the scriptures in Hebrew.

The Abayudaya of Uganda are an unusual phenomenon in Jewish history, having converted to Judaism without any external Jewish aid or influence.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"According to the Jewish law, there is a need for us for what you call official conversion, official conversion. But we feel as though we are converted. And so we, I, when we made contact today, there is no 'I feel,' I am converted."
SUPERCAPTION: Aron Kintu Moses, Secretary of Abayudaya Community

The Abayudaya regard Israel as the religious and spiritual centre of the universe.

They see it not only as the cradle of Judaism but also where its respected and well known holy men are buried.

However Orthodox Judaism does not recognise them as true Jews despite the fact that they observe all the tenants of Judaism.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...