And so thanks to the Dead Sea scrolls we now know who the Lemba (Mwenye) really are. We also know why their DNA traceability to the Jews is not matrilineal but patrilineal.
But first things first.
The pesher technique that Benson Saili, in his writings about the Dead Sea scrolls, claims was invented by the Essenes is a standard Kalanga language construct used exactly as it was used by the Essenes. In Kalanga, speaking in pesher is called “KU PESA”. Indeed, the word “Essenes” itself is in “pesher” as follows:
The first "E" is the usual Kalanga/Nguni "i-something" prefix, as in "i-mpala; i-mota; etc". In English it simply translates to "It is - " or in short form, "It's". It is the same "E" as used in the word Egypt. In the word "Italy" it is correctly rendered in the Kalanga language "I-".
The next part "-ssenes", comes from the Kalanga verb "KU SENA", meaning "TO GO UNDER (something)". In the case of the Essenes, it simply meant that they were an underground movement. However, the Romans would not have associated "Ku sena" with being seditious, but simply with literally going under (a branch, a ladder etc). Therein lies the pesher nature of their name "Essenes".
If, as Ben Saili points out, the Essenes were a male religious sect or order, that would explain why the Lemba of Southern Africa show only a patrilineal, and not a matrilineal DNA connection to the Middle East. In other words, the Lemba are the original Essenes order of the Jews. As to why they are black, that is no issue. In fact to us Africans they have distinct Asian features, which they share with many other present day African groups. To us Kalangas, they are simply Baperi, tribally different from other Kalanga tribes such as Bawumbe, Bangwa-Ato, Bakhurutshe, Bangwa-khwizi, Bakhwa, Ba-Mbukushu; but no less Kalanga than those other tribes! However, their customs are a reflection of their history, and therefore of necessity must differ from the customs of say, the Banyayi for example. The Lemba customs are, as professor Parfitt pointed out, distinctly Jewish. Of course, as the Essenes, they would have to be.
This brings me to a very touchy subject, which I hope will not land me in jail. I am very disturbed by the current stampede by Botswana traditional leaders from their roles as custodians of their respective peoples' cultures, into Parliament. Some newspaper columnists argue that it is a good thing, since politicians have usurped the powers of traditional leaders anyway, leaving the latter powerless to direct the lives of their people. I do not agree. In my view, the House of Traditional leadres (Ntlo ya Dikgosi), after its reconstitution to include all tribes that are currently not represented therin, Bahumbe, Bakhwa, BaMbukushu, BaKoba, BaSubiya, Baperi, BaNyayi, BaNambdza, Barotsi etc, should fight to have the final say in all matters that have a bearing on the cultures of their people.
A court in Francistown is currently seized with a very sad case in which a member of the Lemba/Baperi tribe has been convicted of raping his own daughter, and fathering a child with her. He faces a possibility of life in prison. I am wondering if the tradition/culture of the convict may have had anything to do with his behaviour. Assuming that it did, will entry of his chief into Parliament lead to the enactment of laws that take into account the effect of his culture upon his behaviour? If not, then why should his chief strive to enter Parliament, rather than to be given powers under the House of traditional leaders, to have the final say in matters affecting the culture of his people?
My comment on this case is not in any way meant to interfere with the course of Justice. On the contrary, it simply highlights the importance of having traditional leaders having a say, outside Parliament, in the cultural lives of their subjects. I am not Lemba/Pedi, therefore maybe I am wrong in my insinuations about the Lemba culture. However I know that this country's citizens come from all sorts of different cultural backgrounds, and to ignore the possible effect of their cultural upbringing on their subsequent behaviours would be a recipe for future disintegration of our nation.
