Re-Emerging: The Jews of Nigeria

Jeff L. Lieberman's documentary travels to southeast Nigeria to visit a somewhat controversial pocket of the Jewish diaspora. Within Nigeria's Igboland region is a community that has embraced Judaism, to the point of having Hebrew-language synagogue services. The Igbo group profiled here insists that their society is a remnant of ancient Israel, citing a number of social and cultural similarities between Igbo customs and Old Testament protocol. One charismatic young leader is eager to expand his religious education and become an ordained rabbi. While Igbo community members are enthusiastic in their commitment to Judaism, their euphoria is not shared elsewhere: they are viewed with hostility by Nigeria's Christian and Muslim populations, and the Israeli government has been conspicuously unfriendly toward their claims of brotherhood. In addition to the religious examination, the film also offers a somber detour into the tragic chapters of Igbo history, including the deportation of large numbers of men and women during the peak of the transatlantic slave trade, and the brutal carnage that befell the region in the 1960s Biafran conflict. Ultimately, this documentary provides a remarkable view of a dedicated population's zeal to pursue religious freedom; it's hard not to be caught up in the sincerity and joy that these pious believers bring to their faith. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)