The Abayudaya of Uganda

One of Africa's indigenous Jewish peoples

Most members of the Abayudaya community are devout in their observance of Jewish customs and rituals. The Abayudaya’s Judaism begins from birth, when males are circumcised on the eighth day (unlike local Bagisu youth whose traditional religion dictates circumcision in the fifteenth or sixteenth year.) Abayudaya children grow up with a distinct awareness that they are Jews. They sing Jewish songs, some in the local language of Luganda, others in Hebrew with African melodies written by community members. They tag along at their mother’s heels as she fulfills the traditional role of keeper of the household, especially while cleaning and cooking for Shabbat. From birth the children also accompany their parents to services, both on holidays (the Abayudaya observe the same holidays as Western Jews), and weekly for Shabbat.

Almost all Abayudaya attend Shabbat services, some on Saturday morning only but most on both Friday evening and Saturday. There are five synagogues in the community, and each offers its own particular style of observance. At the Moses synagogue on Nabugoye Hill, "Rabbi" Gershom Sizomu leads Friday night and Saturday morning services in Hebrew and English – "Rabbi" Mishael delivers a sermon on the week’s parsha every Friday night in Luganda. Some families walk miles and miles to Nabugoye Hill to pray on Saturday mornings – children scamper along in front of their parents, elderly men trudge up the hill leaning on hand-carved walking sticks. Shabbat and holiday services are often the only time that community members will see each other for the week, so they become both social and religious occasions.

While those on Nabugoye Hill have chosen to add Hebrew to their traditional Lugandan prayers (with many of the Lugandan melodies written by Kakungulu himself), congregants at the nearby synagogue in the village of Namanyonyi have chosen to hold their services exclusively in Luganda. Shabbat morning services in Namanyonyi are peaceful and solemn. Congregants remove their shoes before entering the synagogue and speak in reverent tones. The week’s prayer leader stands before the congregation and preaches about the moral tenets of Judaism.

There are two synagogues in Palisa, a village several miles away from both Mbale and Nabugoye Hill. The farmers in Palisa bring their families to the synagogue, which are active with religious observance throughout Shabbat. The community’s fifth and most remote synagogue is in the village of Namatumba, approximately seventy kilometers from Mbale. Many Namatumba elders have passed on and the younger community members have not followed them in their observances. Members of the Abayudaya Youth Group have initiated efforts to revive Jewish observances in the most distant part of their community.

Being Jewish is a consistent and conscious part of life as an Abayudaya. Until recent developments such as the opening of Semei Kakungulu High School have invited more non-Jews to enjoy the recent success of their community, Abayudaya children were often teased or even beaten by other children because of their religion. Members of the community have been known to accuse the Jews of being "Christ Killers." The Abayudaya were especially pressed to forego their religion during Idi Amin’s harsh rule in the ‘70s. During those difficult times many of the approximately 3,000 Abayudaya did convert, but a hardy 500 remained true to their faith.

Daily Jewish observances do continue to set the Abayudaya apart from their neighbors. Most Abayudaya keep kosher according to Talmudic law. Abayudaya slaughter their own animals according to Jewish custom and will not eat pig products. Jews do not participate in local Basigu circumcision rituals, nor do they follow the popular Christian and Musilim holidays of their neighbors. The Abayudaya keep a respectful distance from non-Jews in matters of religion, but they mingle with their neighbors at home, in the market, and in all other areas of public life