Jewish Musicians in Eastern Nigeria (Igbo Jews) want to share their melodies with the rest of the Jewish world, but they face severe anti-Semitism when trying to rent recording studios from non-Jews. Igbo Jews are often denied use of the studio, charged higher fees than normal, and are not permitted to use new and specialized tools available only to non-Jewish musicians.
Menashe Obinna is a Jewish singer and musician, currently living and working in Port Harcourt, Nigeria where he regularly leads services as a chazzan in his community. Menashe also studies music at a local academy in his spare time. He wants to share his music as well as the traditional Jewish melodies sung by his Igbo community with the rest of the Jewish world, but to do so requires either traveling to Lagos, an 11-hour journey by bus, or trying to rent studio space locally, which is difficult if not impossible.
menahse obinna rosh hodesh clip
Menashe would like to record his debut album of original and traditional Jewish music, as well as make the space available for use by other community members. Having a high-quality digital recording will allow Menashe and other artists like him to earn an income from his music, as well as strengthen the Igbo connection with the rest of the Jewish world.
Since the government of Nigeria makes it very hard for ordinary people to fundraise directly there, Menashe has asked Rabbi Elias Zwang, Associate Rabbi at Sim Shalom Zoomregation of New York, NY, to collect funds on his behalf within the USA and send him 100% of all funds raised.
