The History, Present, and Future of the Abayudaya Jewish Community of Uganda

Join the BZD and our presenter Shoshana Nambi for a Virtual presentation of the Jewish Community of Uganda, where Jews have been present for over 100 years. The Abayudaya Jewish community was founded by a tribal chief who converted himself and many of his followers to Judaism in 1919. One hundred years later, there are more than ten synagogues in different Ugandan villages and four Jewish schools, and the community continues to grow.

Shoshana will share the history of Abayudaya, the Jews of Uganda, her own family story, her journey through rabbinical school, and her experiences living in Israel and the United States. She will present how the Abayudaya, predominantly subsistence farmers, have maintained their Jewish identity alongside their Christian and Muslim neighbors. Shoshana will also reflect on the transformation of the Jewish community since its founding in 1919, its challenges living under Idi Amin Dada, and Abayudaya’s latest struggles for recognition by the state of Israel.