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How a Jewish boy from Canterbury became a Zulu chieftain

JL;DR SUMMARY Nathaniel Isaacs, a Jewish adventurer from Canterbury, England, became an unlikely historical figure as a Zulu chieftain and colonial participant in Africa. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.

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Tags

IdentityJewish HistoryJewish DiasporaColonialism19th CenturyAdam RovnerNathaniel IsaacsZuluZulu ChieftainAfrican Exploration

Places mentioned

Canterbury, England, United Kingdom
"Born in 1808 in Canterbury, England, Isaacs was raised in a lower-middle class Jewish family."
Jamestown, Saint Helena, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
"where he met Canadian seaman James Saunders King."
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
"Isaacs joined King on an expedition to Cape Town, the capital of Englands Cape Colony, which was in the southeast of present-day South Africa."
Matakong, Coyah, Guinea
"He eventually created his own colony on Matakong Island, off the coast of modern day Guinea."
Liverpool, England, United Kingdom
"At the end of his life, Isaacs became active in the Jewish community, becoming a trustee of the New Hebrew Congregation in Liverpool."

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Cairo Item ID 49341
Cairo Source ID 35
Retrieved 2025-04-15 05:31:02 UTC
Curated 2025-04-15 08:31:19 UTC