"The Hebraic Origins of the Temne": According to Biblical and Oral History by Yahshurun Obai Agyemang(Brandon Coleman)

A special thanks to those who helped me in my research and gave their support: my Wife Ebony Coleman, Elder Abu Fofana, and my brothers of Salone who allowed me to interview them. YAHUAH bless.

This book is a gift to my people, the Temne tribe of Sierra Leone. My African name is Obai Agyemang. This name was given to me by my Temne and Ashanti brothers. My birth name is Brandon Coleman. I did not know about my Salone heritage until a few years ago. Up until that time, I only understood that my ancestors were brought to the United States in slavery. With help from the Creator, I was able to find out the hidden history of the so called "African Americans". When I reached my twenties I started to get more into the Bible; reading more frequently. I soon learned that the Creator's Name was removed from the bible almost 7,000 times and replaced with erroneous titles, such as LORD and GOD. Through research, I discovered that the Creator's real Name is YAHUAH. This is the Name given to Moses from the burning bush, as evidenced in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Understanding that the Messiah came in the Name of His Father, I realised that only YAHUSHA could be the messiah's true Name; meaning YAHUAH is salvation. He was a Hebrew by nationality, carrying a Hebrew name. The name "Jesus" is a false substitue, with strong connections to the Greek deity, Zeus. Also there is no letter 'J' in Hebrew. According to biblical prophecy and history, the so called "African Americans" are the Children of Israel, the Hebrews of the holy Scriptures. The Bible is our history book. This explains the many misfortunes that have come upon our people for centuries in America and across the world. I learned that our disobedience caused the Creator, YAHUAH, to scatter us across the world. And YAHUAH shall scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other mighty ones, which neither you nor your fathers have known, wood and stone." (Deuteronomy 28:64) I wanted to know my complete story. So, I took two DNA tests with African Ancestry. I found that I share DNA with the Temne people of Sierra Leone on my maternal and paternal lines. Because I knew nothing about theTemne and there was limited information available on the internet, I decided to reach out to my brothers from Sierra Leone and other African countries via social media and my diverse neighborhood. The first of many items of information to be uncovered is the multiple spellings of the tribe; Timmannee/Temne/Temeni/Temani. From then on, I began to conduct interviews with knowledgeable elders and friends, regarding customs,

traditions, and migrations. Through further evaluation, I realized a strong similarity between the Temne and Hebrew peoples. This book is about the research and answers that I have found regarding my people. I hope this book will be a blessing to anyone who wants to know about the Temnes lost history. I hope one day this book will spark the mind of someone to add to this information, or look deeper into their own history, no matter their nationality.

Yahshurun Obai Agyemang (Brandon Coleman)

colemanbrandon22@yahoo.com.

My DNA Results

Sierra Leone is located in West Africa. The Temne are one of the largest tribes in Sierra Leone. Many trace the Temne history to Futa Jallon, a place located in modern Guinea. The word Guinea actually derives from the Hebrew word Guinath, meaning protection. (1Kings 16;22)(1). Some can trace their migration further to the Mali Empire, once located in western Sudan. It means circumcised in the Bantu dialect. Sudan originally comes from the word So-Yuda Land of Judah(2)There are also quite a great number of Temeni that know of their migration from the East, in Yemen. Yemen was originally part of the land mass of Ethiopia. There is a saying that the Temne greeting Topia comes from the word Ethiopia. As a matter of fact, there is a certain group of people in Ethiopia where the natives speak Temeni. According

to Christian Friedrich Schlenker, in his book Grammar of the Temne Language he quotes, Philology will find ample materials to bring forward some striking analogies between the Temne and other, not only African but SEMITIC and European languages.(3) There are Yemenite Jews/Yahudim that are called Temani. The word Temani in Hebrew means southward. I believe that there is a strong possibilty that there is a connection between the Temeni of Sierra Leone and the Temani of Yemen. Especially since the Temeni of Sierra Leone once sojourned in that area. Before we go any deeper we must understand a couple of facts: The land of Israels location was not originally called the Middle East. Israels location was originally called northeast Africa. Israel was not seperated from Africa until the late 1800s when the Suez Canal was built. The original borders of Israel stretched between the Nile and the Euphrates.

"On the same day YAHUAH made a covenant with Abram, saying, 'I have given this land to your seed, from the river of

Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates.' " (Genesis 15:18) One can now easily see that there was a large migration of Hebrews into Eastern Africa and Saudia Arabia. There is historical documentation in the Kebra Negast that Hebrews that came back with Menelek, Solomons son, to Ethiopia. When the Temple was destroyed in 70 C.E., over a million Israelites fled into Africa. These are only a few accounts of Hebraic presence within these borders. Another fact to address is the appearance of the original Hebrews. They were a black-skinned people. This is a reality the Western world has kept hidden.

An ancient image of the Messiah YAHUSHA who the world today refers to by the false name Jesus. The name Jesus is not a Hebrew name it has Greek origins, as previously stated.

A picture of the scene Genesis 22

Hebrews going into captivity

By this time you are probaly thinking, what about the European Jews? Historically, many converted to the religion of Judaism in Europe around 700 C.E., and are not blood descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Some know and will admit this fact.

Now that we have put ourselves in a historical mindset, we can continue. According to
oral traditions, the Temne are from the tribe of Yahudah/Judah. They left Israel after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 C.E. They then went to Yemen/Ethiopia, to Mali/Western Sudan, then Futa Jallon/Guenea, and later Sierra Leone. What I found in the Bible was very interesting. There is a descendant of Judah with the name Timmannee. 1 Chronicles 4:16 reads:

"The sons of Yahudah(JUDAH): Perets, tsron, and Karmi, and Hur, and Shobal. 2And Reayah son of Shobal brought forth Yahath, and Yahath brought forth Ahumai and Lahad. These were the clans of the Tsorathites. 3And these were of the father of Eytam: Yizre'el, and Yishma, and Yidbash. Andthe name of their sister was Hatselelponi; 4and Penuel was the father of Gedor, and Ezer was the father of Hushah. These were the sons of Hur, the first-born of Ephrathah the father of Beyth Lehem. 5And Ashhur the father of Teqowa had two wives, Helah and Na'arah. 6And Na'aarah bore him Ahuzzam, and Hepher, and TEMENI, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Na'arah." The Temne always refer to their chiefs as the Lion. The Lion is the symbol of Judah (Genesis 49:9, Revelation 5:5). Israels kingship belonged to the tribe of Yahudah/Judah(Genesis 49:10). It is known among the Temne that their kingship originates in the east. There was a Temne chief named Alhaji Bai Shebora King David Kamara. Even though he was a Muslim by religion, he chose the name King David because he knew about the Temne's kingship originating from the tribe of Yahudah/Judah; the lineage of King David.

King David Kamara

The Temne say the following words when honoring the chief.
E laftheh ro thoron

I turn to the east (The Israelites, wherever they sojournered in exile, always turned to the East towards Jerusalem. This is where the Temple once stood.( Daniel 6:10, 2 Chronicles 6:34-39)
E nessa enswella I fear the Lion E kori kori mu I praise you Lantha Karabai So be it to the king

When Hailie Salassie, the former king of Ethiopia, visited Sierra Leone and was honored in this way. This man was a known descendant of King David from the tribe of Judah. Hailie Salassie is still referred to as the Lion of Judah. The Temne also practice the Hebrew custom of circumcision on the eighth day, as it was given to Abraham by the Creator, YAHUAH:
And Elohim said to Abraham, As for you, guard My covenant, you and your seed after you throughout their generations. 10This is My covenant which you guard between Me and you, and your seed after you: Every male child among you is to be circumcised. 11 And you shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall become a sign of the covenant between Me and you. 12And a son of eight days is circumcised by you, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with silver from any foreigner who is not of your seed. 13He who is born in your house, and he who is bought with your silver, has to be circumcised. So shall My covenant be in your flesh, for an everlasting covenant.(Genesis 17:9-13)

Some Temne even name their children on the eighth day, according to the Israelite custom:

And

when eight days were completed for Him to be circumcised, His Name was called YAHUSHA, the Name given by the messenger before He was conceived in the womb.(Luke 2:21)

What is also amazing is that the Temne believe in one supreme Deity, and they believe that this Diety originates from the East. This is truly in line with Hebraic thought. There is also a Temne ritual called Rabai de Temne, which means "Kingdom of Temne". The word Rabai is identical to the Hebrew title Rabbi, which means great one, teacher, or master. The Temne have always known that the earth was created in six days, but by influences from other tribes they forgot what the true seventh day rest is. Unknowingly they have been keeping the Seventh day Sabbath set-apart after all. On Saturday, which is the seventh day, they have a custom that no farming or traveling is done. They believe that if they do not rest or travel on that day, a great misfortune will come upon them. Some believe that they will be overcome by spirits. The Temne's Seventh day rest is truly in line with the Scriptures. It is a sign of the covenant between YAHUAH and his people, the Israelites. 13And you, speak to the children of Israel, saying, My Sabbaths you are to guard, by all means, for it is a sign n between Me and you throughout your generations, to know that I, YAHUAH, am setting you apart. 14And you shall guard the Sabbath, for it is set-apart to you. Everyone who profanes it shall certainly be put to death, for anyone who does work on it, that being shall be cut off from among his people. 15Six days work is done, and on the seventh is a Sabbath of rest, set-apart to YAHUAH. Everyone doing work on the Sabbath day shall certainly be put to death. 16And the children of Israel shall guard the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as an everlasting covenant. 17Between Me and the children of Israel it is a sign forever. For in six days YAHUAH made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed. (Exodus 31:13-17) Polygmy is a custom that the Temne today still practice. Just as the ancient Hebrews, so the Temne practice immersions for atonement and ritual cleasensing. "he shall wash all his flesh in Water.(Leviticus 15:16)

The Temne also pour out drink offerings and practice sacrifices on certain feasts and celebrations. 14And Jacob set up a standing column in the place where He had spoken with him, a monument of stone. And he poured a drink offering on it, and he poured oil on it. 15And Jacob called the name of the place where Elohim spoke with him, Bethth
El.(Genesis 35:14)

Unfortunately my people have lost the knowledge of the origins of these rituals and have done them in idolatry. Israelites practiced the blowing of horns for celebrations, gathering of peoples, and the arrival of kings. The Temne do the same. The only difference, is that in ancient times the Hebrews made their horns out of ram horns or silver, while the Temne use elephant tusks to make their horns. And YAHUAH spoke to Moses, saying, 2Make two silver trumpets for yourself, make them of beaten work. And you shall use them for calling the congregation and for breaking camp. 3And when they blow both of them, all the congregation shall meet before you at the door of the Tent of Meeting. 4And if they blow one, then the leaders, the heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather to you.(Numbers 10:1-4)

Chief's Horn

Spring begins the New Year for the ancient Israelites according to the Scriptures. This month is called Abib. The Children of Israel were delivered out of Egypt by the hand of YAHUAH in this month.

month is the beginning of months for you, it is the first month of the year for you." (Exodus 12:2)
4Today

2This

you are going out, in the month Abib."(Exodus13:4)

On the fifteenth of this month, the Israelites would eat unleavened bread for seven days. Temne people celebrate their new year originally in spring, and go through a sort of "mikveh" (immersion in water), and eat unleavened bread on the first day of the month. Migrations and influences of other tribes have caused the differing time frames regarding the eating of unleavened bread in the month of Abib. The Temne Hebrews believe in separate afterlives for the righteous and unrighteous, mirroring that of the Israelites. The Israelites called one place "paradise" for the righteous and the other "sheol", the abode of the dead. Just as the Israelites of old, the Temne believe in a great judgement and everything to be made anew by the Creator himself. And I saw a renewed heaven and a renewed earth, for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea is no more.(Revelation 21:1) According to the Law of Moses, if a man takes a woman for his wife and finds her deflowered, he may send her away. When a man takes a wife and shall marry her, then it shall be, if she finds no favour in his eyes because he has found a matter of uncoveredness, in her, and he shall write her a certificate of divorce, and put it in her hand, and send her out of his house(Deuteronomy 24:1) Also if he takes a virgin as his wife he must first pay a dowry.
16And when a man entices a maiden who is not engaged, and lies with her, he shall certainly pay the bride-price for her to be his wife. 17If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he pays according to the brideprice of maidens. (Exodus 22:16,17)

The Temne practice these exact same customs! Dear reader in conclusion I would like to say By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established. The Temne/Temeni/Timmannee/Themne are really Israelites by blood. Many customs have remained the same, while a lot of traces of foreign worship have infiltrated our culture. This by no means discredits us from reclaiming our lost heritage. This is the key for my brothers' and sisters' salvation. Once you know your origins you will know your responsibility to be a light to the nations.
12And

now, Israel, what is YAHUAH your

Elohim asking of you, but to fear YAHUAH your Elohim, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, and to serve YAHUAH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your being, 13to guard the commands of YAHUAH and His laws which I command you today for your good? 14See, the heavens and the heaven of heavens belong to YAHUAH your Elohim, also the earth with all that is in it. 15YAHUAH delighted only in your fathers, to love them. And He chose their seed after them, you above all peoples,k as it is today. 16And you shall circumcise the foreskin of your heart, l and harden your neck no more.(Deuteronomy 10:12-16)
10Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which is not measured nor counted. And it shall be in the place where it was said to them, You are not My people, they shall becalled, You are the sons of the living El.(Hoshea 1:10)

The Temne have been hidden for centuries, in West Africa, in exile, from their native land Israel. Now, we are waking up to who we are, and hopefully soon, all of our Hebrew brothers in Sierra Leone will wake up also. There are other tribes in Africa and hopefully their stories will soon be told. Somehow I know the Creator YAHUAH will gather his people from the four corners and bring us back into our land just as He promised. But first there must be repentance. We must leave idols, religion, and witchcraft alone. These are the reasons we as a people are exiled and cursed. We must unite under YAHUSHA Messiah, our King and Master. He is our Salvation and the Torah (Word,Law) manifested.

References

(1),(2)Vanda,Thomas (2003). The Great Secrets of Israel. Biblioteque et Archives nationales du Que'bec Institute For Scripture Research (2009). The Scriptures. South Africa: Institute For Scripture Research Schlenker, C.F. (1864). Grammar of the Temne Language. London, Printed for the Church Missionary Society