Who are the Abayudaya?

One hundred years ago, warrior Semi Kekangulu near Mbale in eastern Uganda met with Christian missionaries. When asked to accept their faith, he took the New Testament, ripped it out of the bible, pointed to the Old Testament and said “We will live by this book!” Chief Kekangulu circumcised himself and his two sons and worshipped what he considered to be the “one true G-d.”

One hundred years have passed since that day, and the Jews of Uganda, now called the “Abayudaya,” (meaning “People of Judah” in Luganda, their native language) have formed a community of devout, learned and practicing Jews. The vast majority have, because of their unwavering belief in egalitarianism and Jewish values, identified themselves as Conservative Jews.

Their synagogues are filled with voices that sing ancient Hebrew liturgy in their own African-based melodies, including new words in Luganda.  They have lived through the Idi Amin era; through isolation from the outside world; through rejection by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel–the land we all

love so well; and yet, they have persisted. Today, they are the voice of the Jews of Africa.

We, in the Cantors Assembly, believe, along with their spiritual leader, Rabbi Gershom Sizomu, that their voices and our voices must be united as one.  And with that single, unified voice, we are planning to record a CD commemorating 100 years of the Abayudaya.

The CD will contain music, old and new, woven together by the narration of Rabbi Sizomu and supported by voices of the Conservative Movement.

Why Them?

While the Jewish spirit thrives among the Abayudaya, they still face daily survival challenges and live largely through subsistence farming.  Drought, disease, water shortages and other environmental hazards pose daily threats to their way of life. We feel compelled to offer any and all assistance we can give to help their efforts to procure healthcare, prevent disease, provide education, build homes and develop a sustainable economy.

All proceeds from the sale of this project will be donated back to the Abayudaya community in perpetuity.

Why Another Abayudaya CD?

While there is already a book about the Abayudaya, two feature-length documentaries and other music CDs, they were all produced and/or told from the perspective of outsiders. What makes this project unique is that it will be the first time the Abayudaya story will be told in their own words. Against the rich backdrop of their music, spiritual leader Rabbi Gershom Sizomu will narrate the story of the Abayudaya, providing exclusive insights into the life and history of this remarkable community.

The CD and book will be released officially at the world-wide 100th Anniversary of the Abayudaya community in Mbale, Uganda in late June, 2019.

About The Project

When you donate to this project, you are making possible the following:

• Recording the Abayudaya in their native communities (field recordings)
• Studio time in Ugandan studios for recording
• Studio time in the United States for recording
• Additional musicians
• Mixing, mastering, engineering
• Cover Art
• Liner notes
• A music book with notation for all of the songs
• Distribution of both the CD and the Song Book
• Public relations firm to publicize this project
• Video documentation
• Video editing
• Setting up a process for the Abayudaya community to be their own distribution network and financially support the continuation of this project
• Make possible educational materials and performance support from the Cantors Assembly

Who Are We?

We are passionate about building connections among Jews, and we believe that music is the single most powerful vehicle there is to accomplish that. The Cantors Assembly is the world’s largest membership-based organization of cantors. We primarily serve Conservative congregations throughout North America.

Many of our members have been regularly using Abayudaya melodies to lead services for years. Some have even studied together and recorded with Rabbi Sizomu during his time as a student at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in Los Angeles. Others have visited numerous times and developed special relationships with Rabbi Sizomu and with his community.

Our familiarity with the people and expertise in recording and distributing Jewish music make us natural partners. This promises to be a true milestone in introducing the Abayudaya to the broader Jewish community.

Why Now?

While June, 2019 marks the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the Abayudaya community, June, 2018 reminded us that the Abayudaya’s struggle for recognition in the larger Jewish world is far from over. The rejection by Israel’s Interior Ministry of Yosef Kibita’s aliyah application is proof that more work must still be done to secure the rights of all Jews to become Israeli citizens under the “Law of Return,” regardless of which way the political winds blow in Jerusalem.

When?

A team of Cantors Assembly members will be traveling to Uganda in January-February, 2019 at their own expense to express our solidarity and make the necessary field and studio recordings in Uganda. All work in connection with this project by our members is being done strictly on a volunteer basis. Upon completion of our trip, the project will be completed in the US.