Biafrans - Who they are, part 2

Map of Ancient Africa with Biafra

The name Biafra like the name Africa can be traced back to the Moorish Tribe of Bani Ifran, a name meaning the Children of Ephraim. In this setting Ephraim refers to their descent from the Israelite tribe of Ephraim being the House of Joseph.

The Bani Ifran or Biafrans were also known as the Bafar tribes and it is they who established the Black Moorish Kingdoms of Ghana,Mali and Songhai. From Mali many of the Biafrans migrated to the areas of present day Nigeria where they became the leaders of the Igbo Nation. 

In this regard the authority of the Biafrans was symbolized by the donning of

the Moorish Red Fez which became the sign of an Igbo Chief. The Bani-Ifran also established the " Divination System " known to the Yoruba as IFA and to the Igbo as EFA or AFA. This Ephraimite Divination System was practiced by the Prophet Joseph in Egypt and was passed on to his son Ephraim being the progenitor of the Bani-Ifran or Biafran people.

The original Biafrans were members of a Moorish tribe in Morocco known as the Bani-Ifran. A name referring to their descent from the Israelite tribe of Ephraim. Those who settled in Mauritania and Mali became known as the BAFOUR or BAFAR (BIAFAR,BIAFRAN) tribes. They were at times referred to as Black Moors or Black Berbers. They were members of the Mande tribes from which the Mandingo based Soninke and Malinke belonged. In this regard they were amongst the founders of the Ancient Ghana,Mali and Songhai. 

To this day there is a tribe in Guinea-Bissau called the Biafada and they are alternatively known as the Biafara. They speak a Mande based language. Traveling from Mali many of the Biafrans settled in Southrern Nigeria. As recently as 1930 a remnant of the Bene-Ephraim (Bani-Ifran) who maintained the original identity were found to be living amongst the Yorubas in the Ondo District. Amongst the Igbo the Biafrans (Ephraimites) became a ruling class whose authority was symbolized by the wearing of the Moorish Red Fez which to this day is a sign of an Igbo Chieftain.

During the 1990's an Igbo man named Chima petitioned the Israeli Courts for recognition of the Igbo as Israelites. His petition was presented with evidences of Ephraimite(Biafran) origins. Hausa states were founded by Bani-Ifran(Biafran Refugees) during the 10th Century. In understanding the tribal origins of the BIAFRANS it can be further understood that not only are the Igbo counted amongst the Biafrans but the Yoruba and Hausa as well.

It is through the ancient origin or understanding of Biafra as Bani-Ifran meaning of the tribe of Ephraim that the Hausa and Yoruba are connected to Biafra. It was Bani-Ifran refugees who settled in what is now Northern Nigeria who founded the Hausa States:Bayajidda was a representation of the followers of ABU YAZID of the Bani-Ifran who were the founders of the Hausa states. The Bani-Ifran(Bene-Ephraim) also settled amongst the Yoruba.

The indigenous inhabitants of the Southwest were at one time known as the Igbo. A Yoruba tribe living in the Kwara State is still known as IGBO-MINA. However there is a more ancient tribal origin which can be traced from the Bani-Ifran through the Bafour,Bafar and Biafar tribes. There is only one tribe who still uses Biafara as their tribal name. This is the BIAFADA of GUINEA-BISSAU WHO ARE ALTERNATIVELY KNOWN AS THE BIAFAR.

According to the port areas found within the Bight of Biafra maybe not as the article suggests. However most of the " Non-Igbo " of South Southeast Nigeria such as the Efik,Kwa,Ibibio of whom the article identifies as being "Authentic Biafrans" were at one time part of the " Greater Igbo Nation". The modern Biafran Republic is soley remembered as an "Igbo movement" because of the fact that the Igbo happen to be the majority living in the Southeast. However it definitely included ALL OF THE BIAFRANS OF THE SOUTHEAST INCLUDING THOSE WHO DID NOT CONSIDER THEMSELVES IGBO.
THIS IS VERIFIED IN THE FACT THAT THE 2ND PRESIDENT OF THE BIAFRAN REPUBLIC WAS AN OBONG OF THE EFIK: PHILLIP EFFIONG
IN THIS REGARD AND IN CONTRAST TO THE AIM OF THE ARTICLE,THE NAME BIAFRA MAY HAVE BEEN ADOPTED AS A NEUTRAL AND UNIFYING NAME FOR ALL OF THE VARIOUS TRIBAL ENTITIES FOUND IN THE SOUTHEAST. SINCE THE IGBO WERE THE MAJORITY IN THE SOUTHEAST THEY BORE THE BRUNT OF THE ANTI-BIAFRAN BACKLASH AFTER THE WAR.OUT OF THE INSTINCT TO SURVIVE SOME OF THE " NON-IGBO" BIAFRANS BEGAN TO DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM THE IGBO. IN ADDITION OTHERS WHO EVEN IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES AS IGBO AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WAR NOW BEGAN TO DISAVOW ANY IGBO CONNECTION.

FOR MORE ON THE BIAFRANS VISIT
THE MOORISH BIAFRAN TEMPLE OF ISRAELITES@
WWW.MOORISHBIAFRA.COM