Genetic tests on the Lemba people of southern Africa show convincing evidence the Bantu-speaking tribes may be of Jewish ancestry.A team of geneticists have discovered that Lemba men carry a DNA sequence that is distinctive to the cohanim, a hereditary set of Jewish priests. The priests are different from rabbis, and perform certain ritual roles. The Lemba, who practice circumcision, keep one day a week holy and avoid eating pork or pig-like animals, have long asserted they are of Jewish heritage.The discovery of the common DNA sequences stemmed from research being done into the Jewish tradition that priests are the descendants of Aaron, the elder brother of Moses.
Lost Tribes
An analysis of the male Y chromosome found in 1997 that a particular pattern of DNA changes was much more common among cohanim priests than among lay Jews. A population geneticist at Oxford University in England, took that discovery one step further.“In studying the priesthood, we happened into this tool for distinguishing Jewish from non-Jewish populations.” Unlike in other chromosomes, the genetic material of the Y chromosome remains more or less unchanged from generation to generation, making it a useful tool in discovering heritage, the newspaper reported.
The geneticist found a particular set of genetic mutations that was strongly associated with the priestly caste, not so common among lay Jews and very rare in non-Jewish populations. He then tested DNA samples collected from the Lemba.Research showed that the proportion of Lemba men carrying the genetic signature of the priests were similar to those found among the major Jewish populations, strongly supporting the Lemba tradition of Jewish ancestry.And the DNA sequences were particularly common among Lemba men who belong to the Buba clan, the senior of their 12 groups. The Lemba, from South Africa and Zimbabwe, believe they were led out of Judea by a man named Buba.
Approximately 2,500 years ago, a group of Jews left Judea and settled in Yemen. The tribe was led by the house of Buba and we are told that this move was to facilitate trade. In Yemen they settled in a place and built a city called Senna . They were then known as the BaSenna (the people from Senna).When conditions became unfavorable and they could no longer call Yemen home.
The House of Hamisi took over the leadership and led the people across into Africa.Once in Africa, the tribe split into 2 sections: One group settled in Ethiopia and the other group went further south along the East Coast. They settled in what today is known as Kenya and built Senna 2. Here they prospered and increased in numbers.The travel bug bit once again and they were on the move. one group went down south while the other and settled in Kenya. Their descendants are still residing in these countries up to today and are generally known as Ba Mwenye
Ethiopian jews
The remaining group, under the leadership of the house of Bakali, moved on and settled in Mozambique. Here they built Senna 3. Even today, the BaSenna are found in Mozambique.After many years, part of the tribe, now under the leadership of Seremane moved further south to settle in Chiramba in what is known today as Zimbabwe. They were known as the Ba-Lemba. Our people still live there up to today. Some of the tribe moved south again and eventually settled in South Africa .Lemba males posses the Priestly Cohanim gene on their Y chromosome do Kikuyu men have the same chromosome?
More discussion here -Who are the Kikuyu
