A renowned anthropologist, Prof. Jazzy Ezeh, has dismissed claims that the Igbo people migrated from the Jews, saying there is no scientific or linguistic evidence to support the theory.
Speaking at the 2025 Annual Lecture in Enugu, Ezeh argued that genealogical language links require coordinated lexicons and shared origins, noting that Hebrew is Afro-Asiatic while Igbo is not. “This is not an assertion or belief but scientific,” he said.
Ezeh also rejected circumcision comparisons, describing Igbo circumcision as “a rite of passage from child to adulthood,” unlike Jewish circumcision performed on the eighth day after birth. He added that multiple creation accounts of Igbo origins remain unproven and are largely subjective.
Former Anambra Chief Judge, Peter Umeadi, praised the Igbo’s unique identity, while organisers said the lecture aimed to correct misconceptions about Igbo history.