Exiled from Familiar Lands: Arab Jews & Igbos
Once in exile, particularly in Israel, Arab Jews faced cultural suppression and renaming. They were no longer “Iraqi,” “Tunisian,” or “Yemeni” Jews. They were classified under the imposed label “Mizrahi”—a vague, catch-all term meaning “Eastern” that erased centuries of specific Arab cultural and linguistic heritage.
It’s Not Voodoo, It’s Not Juju: It's Omenana
Customs surrounding mourning and memorialization are not unique to the Igbo or Judaism but reflect a universal human desire to remember and honor our deceased. By reframing these practices, we dismantle colonial-era narratives and restore respect to deeply spiritual and meaningful traditions.