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Hebrewisms of West Africa
Hebrewisms of West Africa
Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 1930
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 2, 2018
I initially rated this book a 5. Coming back to it for some research I am doing, I am downgrading it to a 4 because I am noticing things I didn’t notice before. (I was very young when I read it the first time.)
Joseph J Williams compiles many years of research that gives extensive details into the tribal customs of the people of West Africa. What I love and have always loved is the evidence it provides on the Hebrew customs and traditions practiced by many African Tribal Nations. What I don’t like is that the book should have been titled “A Compilation of the Hebrewisms of West Africa”, because most of the information is from other sources and not the author himself.
Perhaps the main thing I dislike (that I didn’t notice before) is that the book was first published in 1930, the height of Jim Crow and I don’t know what Williams (who is white) beliefs were but a lot of the quotes used are by racists authors. Williams also makes some false claims himself as he tries to make the connection between the Hebrew customs of the bible and African people.
This isn’t to say that this isn’t still a good source of study on how many African traditions are rooted in Hebrewism (by that I mean a lot of traditional African culture is taken directly from the Old Testament of the bible. Examples: Circumcision, the division of the tribes into twelve, blood sprinkling on their altars and doorposts, separation and purification after childbirth, menstrual uncleanliness, etc.) but quoting racists and misinterpreting prophecy waters the book down.
While I still hope people will take a chance on it I do understand now why some are hesitant. For me, there’s a lot of good information here so I won’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Not everything here is false and can be validated historically and biblically. It just signals to me the importance of us reading and fact checking for ourselves. Most of the people who claim to have loved or not liked this book I am willing to bet did not read it in its entirety before they formed these opinions (it’s close to 400 pages).
Joseph J Williams compiles many years of research that gives extensive details into the tribal customs of the people of West Africa. What I love and have always loved is the evidence it provides on the Hebrew customs and traditions practiced by many African Tribal Nations. What I don’t like is that the book should have been titled “A Compilation of the Hebrewisms of West Africa”, because most of the information is from other sources and not the author himself.
Perhaps the main thing I dislike (that I didn’t notice before) is that the book was first published in 1930, the height of Jim Crow and I don’t know what Williams (who is white) beliefs were but a lot of the quotes used are by racists authors. Williams also makes some false claims himself as he tries to make the connection between the Hebrew customs of the bible and African people.
This isn’t to say that this isn’t still a good source of study on how many African traditions are rooted in Hebrewism (by that I mean a lot of traditional African culture is taken directly from the Old Testament of the bible. Examples: Circumcision, the division of the tribes into twelve, blood sprinkling on their altars and doorposts, separation and purification after childbirth, menstrual uncleanliness, etc.) but quoting racists and misinterpreting prophecy waters the book down.
While I still hope people will take a chance on it I do understand now why some are hesitant. For me, there’s a lot of good information here so I won’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Not everything here is false and can be validated historically and biblically. It just signals to me the importance of us reading and fact checking for ourselves. Most of the people who claim to have loved or not liked this book I am willing to bet did not read it in its entirety before they formed these opinions (it’s close to 400 pages).
June 4, 2025
One of my all time favourite books.
October 15, 2013
I don't buy it. A friend of mine gave me his copy of Williams' work, to give my opinion, after sitting with a group of Hebrew Israelites.
The book is fill to the brim with shaky assumptions, None if any are the authors. He sites ,what feels like a thousand, other writers opinions in an all but comical attempt to prove his idea of this magical "hebrewism" of west Africa. First, I would like to point out that a people when enslaved are forced to adapt the religion and culture of their captors. It is foolish to assume that the Israelite traditions survived unscaved from Egyptian influence. Second, it would be foolish, if not racist to believe Egyptian culture is of anything but african origin.
In the 4th chapter the author even hints of the ibibio people being a source of spiritual influence of the Egyptians. It is my belief that the Akan people come from such a source and are not the product of magical wandering Hebrews.
The author then in the center of the book deviates entirely from the main theme. To give a weak look at the potential of magical wandering Hebrews. The one story that seems any ways believable of the blood of Judah crossing into Africa is in turn shoot down whole heartily. The Solomonic line of kings story is debunked as a falsehood.
I didn't give this book one or two stars because of the many references to older sources, but I didn't agree or buy what the author was selling.
The book is fill to the brim with shaky assumptions, None if any are the authors. He sites ,what feels like a thousand, other writers opinions in an all but comical attempt to prove his idea of this magical "hebrewism" of west Africa. First, I would like to point out that a people when enslaved are forced to adapt the religion and culture of their captors. It is foolish to assume that the Israelite traditions survived unscaved from Egyptian influence. Second, it would be foolish, if not racist to believe Egyptian culture is of anything but african origin.
In the 4th chapter the author even hints of the ibibio people being a source of spiritual influence of the Egyptians. It is my belief that the Akan people come from such a source and are not the product of magical wandering Hebrews.
The author then in the center of the book deviates entirely from the main theme. To give a weak look at the potential of magical wandering Hebrews. The one story that seems any ways believable of the blood of Judah crossing into Africa is in turn shoot down whole heartily. The Solomonic line of kings story is debunked as a falsehood.
I didn't give this book one or two stars because of the many references to older sources, but I didn't agree or buy what the author was selling.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews