THE Lemba clan, also known as "the Black Jews", faces bitter infighting over the apparent lack of a "vision and infrastructural development plan" by the current leadership of the Lemba Cultural Association (LCA).
Cracks started to show last year during the clan's annual gathering at HaMutenda outside Louis Trichardt in Limpopo. HaMutenda is an empty piece of land with no water, sanitation facilities and electricity, which the clan regards as "sacred". The clan has been worshipping there for the past 51 years.
Members complained about gathering at HaMutenda, which was "just bush". They also said the annual meeting had no clear purpose, particularly for young people, because "the "we just listen to speeches by invited guests, eat and then leave".
The disgruntled members believe "at least a hall, a library and information centre" should have been built in HaMutenda "because we know that financial donations have been made to the clan in the past years".
A team of geneticists, led by Dr Tudor Parfitt, found that many Lemba men had in their chromosomes a set of DNA sequences that was distinctive and existed in Jewish priests believed to be the descendants of Aaron.
The genetic similarity with Jewish priests is particularly common among Lemba men who belong to the most senior of their 12 groups known as Bubha.
Sowetan has established that this was another issue that was tearing the clan apart as members fought over the seniority of the various groups.
Bubha is believed to be the man who led the clan out of Yemen until they settled in in southern Africa and especially in South Africa and Zimbabwe.
LCA secretary Rudo Mathivha did not want to comment. He said the LCA executive committee had "reservations".
Infighting, differences tear Lembas apart
THE Lemba clan, also known as "the Black Jews", faces bitter infighting over the apparent lack of a "vision and infrastructural development plan" by the current leadership of the Lemba Cultural Association (LCA).
Cracks started to show last year during the clan's annual gathering at HaMutenda outside Louis Trichardt in Limpopo. HaMutenda is an empty piece of land with no water, sanitation facilities and electricity, which the clan regards as "sacred". The clan has been worshipping there for the past 51 years.
Members complained about gathering at HaMutenda, which was "just bush". They also said the annual meeting had no clear purpose, particularly for young people, because "the "we just listen to speeches by invited guests, eat and then leave".
The disgruntled members believe "at least a hall, a library and information centre" should have been built in HaMutenda "because we know that financial donations have been made to the clan in the past years".
A team of geneticists, led by Dr Tudor Parfitt, found that many Lemba men had in their chromosomes a set of DNA sequences that was distinctive and existed in Jewish priests believed to be the descendants of Aaron.
The genetic similarity with Jewish priests is particularly common among Lemba men who belong to the most senior of their 12 groups known as Bubha.
Sowetan has established that this was another issue that was tearing the clan apart as members fought over the seniority of the various groups.
Bubha is believed to be the man who led the clan out of Yemen until they settled in in southern Africa and especially in South Africa and Zimbabwe.
LCA secretary Rudo Mathivha did not want to comment. He said the LCA executive committee had "reservations".
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