Afropop Worldwide Jewish Communities of Sub-Saharan Africa
Jan 2, 2026
Join Rabbi Jeffrey A. Summit, an ethnomusicologist from Tufts, and Gershom Sizomu, spiritual leader of the Abayudaya community, as they delve into the rich tapestry of sub-Saharan African Jewish history and music. They reveal the fascinating origins of the Abayudaya and their unique blend of local drumming with Jewish songs. The podcast also explores the resilience of these communities under colonialism, their revival post-Amin, and how contemporary music is reaching global audiences, including a Grammy nomination.
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Deliberate Conversion, Not Lost-Tribe Claim
- The Abayudaya consciously self-converted to Judaism through study and practice rather than claiming lost-tribe descent.
- Semei Kakungulu led a large community shift by adopting Sabbath, kosher practices, and circumcision based on the Torah.
Kakungulu's Self-Circumcision Sparked Converts
- Semei Kakungulu circumcised himself and his sons in emulation of Abraham, sparking mass conversion.
- About 3,000 followers reportedly underwent circumcision, one of the largest mass Jewish conversions ever.
Mission Schools Eroded Public Practice
- Isolation and missionary schooling forced many Abayudaya to abandon public Jewish practice mid-century.
- Contact with world Jewry resumed in the 1960s when Aryeh Oded helped them reach Jewish leaders abroad.
