Jon Entine: Not only did they [Lemba] show Kohanim markers, more than 60-65% of [the Lemba Priesthood] have the same Kohanim marker that is found in less of a percentage — 55% — of American and European Jews. On the male line, [Lemba Priests] are more Kohanim, more coherently and consistently Jewish than American Jews or European Jews. It's absolutely remarkable. On that one line that we could trace, right now — the Y-chromosomal line — the male surname line of [Lemba] are almost certainly descendant from the Semites. Zimbabwe was named after 'The Great Zimbabwe': The Great Zimbabwe was certainly built by Jews.
William Sanchez: Hi, this is Bill Sanchez.DNA expert: Mr. Sanchez, I don't usually call people up, but when we got some of the data from you, it was pretty interesting, so we decided that we'd give you a call. Do you know that you might be descendant from Priests?William Sanchez [laughs]: Yah, it makes sense. I am a priest.Stunned Silence.DNA expert: You're a Priest?William Sanchez: Absolutely!DNA expert: Om, well, I don't mean a Catholic priest. I meant Jewish Priest.Jon Entine: Nearly half of the 70 family members of William Sanchez were found to be embedded with the J-1 or J, which definitely marks them of Semitic ancestry. Many of them have direct ancestry that probably indicates that they are Kohanim. A half a dozen of Sanchez's cousins have begun the formal process of conversion to Judaism or are just openly declaring themselves Jews recognizing that, under Jewish Law, they are not considered kosher Kohanim and this is absolutely startling.
Irwin and Elaine Berg: Trefor Jenkins showed that 50 percent of the Lemba Y chromosomes were Semitic in origin. DNA tests of Jewish Cohanim, or descendants of the Israelite priestly class, show that over 50 percent have a specific marker known as the Cohen Modal Haplotype. CMH was found in more than 50 percent of the Buba clan. According to Lemba tradition, a male named Buba was the founder of the Buba priestly clan. It appears that Buba was a Cohen. Many find the idea that they must convert before they are accepted as Jews insulting. There is considerable discussion among them over whether they should accept conversion.
