Nuwaubian Nation

The "Tama-Re" compound as it stood in 2002
Flag used by the Nuwaubian Nation, featuring a Star of David and an Ankh.[1][2][3]

The Nuwaubian Nation, Nuwaubian movement, or United Nuwaubian Nation[4][5][6] (/nuːˈwɔːbiːən/) is an American new religious and black supremacist movement founded and led by Dwight York, also known as Malachi Z. York.[4][5][6] York began founding several black Muslim groups in New York in 1967.[5] He changed his teachings and the names of his groups many times, incorporating concepts from Judaism, Christianity, UFO religions, New Age, and many esoteric beliefs.[4][5][6]

In the late 1980s, he abandoned the black Muslim theology of his movement in favor of Kemetism and UFO religion.[4] In 1991, he took his community to settle in Upstate New York, and then bought land near Eatonton, the county seat of Putnam County in Georgia.[4][6] His followers built an ancient Egypt-themed compound called "Tama-Re" and changed their name to the "United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors."[4][6][7]

By 2000, the United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors had some 500 adherents.[8] They drew thousands of visitors for "Savior's Day" ceremonies. Adherence declined steeply after York was convicted of numerous counts of child molestation, racketeering, and financial reporting violations, and sentenced to 135 years in federal prison in April 2004.[6] The Tama-Re compound was sold under government forfeiture and demolished.[9]: 156  The Southern Poverty Law Center described York as a "black supremacist cult leader",[10] and designated the Nuwaubian Nation as a hate group.[6]

The group has taken numerous names throughout its history, including "Ansaru Allah Community", "Holy Tabernacle Ministries", "United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors" (after the move to Georgia), "Yamassee Native American Moors of the Creek Nation",[a] and "Nuwaubian Nation of Moors".[4][5][6]

  1. ^ "Pround Nuwaubian Fez". Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  2. ^ ""President Black Eagle"". Nuwaubian Nation. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  3. ^ ""Constitution Back"". Nuwaubian Nation. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Palmer, Susan J. (2021). "The United Nuwaubian Nation". In Zeller, Ben (ed.). Handbook of UFO Religions. Brill Handbooks on Contemporary Religion. Vol. 20. Leiden and Boston: Brill Publishers. pp. 343–353. doi:10.1163/9789004435537_017. ISBN 978-90-04-43437-0. ISSN 1874-6691. S2CID 236767801.
  5. ^ a b c d e Palmer, Susan J. (2021). "The Ansaaru Allah Community". In Cusack, Carole M.; Upal, M. Afzal (eds.). Handbook of Islamic Sects and Movements. Brill Handbooks on Contemporary Religion. Vol. 21. Leiden and Boston: Brill Publishers. pp. 694–723. doi:10.1163/9789004435544_037. ISBN 978-90-04-43554-4. ISSN 1874-6691.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h "Nuwaubian Nation of Moors". SPLCenter.org. Montgomery, Alabama: Southern Poverty Law Center. 2022 [September 2015]. Archived from the original on September 8, 2015. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  7. ^ "Black Supremacists: Nuwaubians arrested in common-law scam". SPLCenter.org. Montgomery, Alabama: Southern Poverty Law Center. Winter 2003. Archived from the original on February 9, 2005. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  8. ^ "membership and geography data for 4,300+ religions, churches, tribes, etc". Adherents.com. 1999. Archived from the original on August 24, 2006. Retrieved August 19, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link), citing Copeland, Larry (September 18, 1999). "Race, Religion, Rhetoric Simmer in Georgia Town". The Salt Lake Tribune. USA Today., reports an estimated 550 adherents
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Palmer Nation was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference meets was invoked but never defined (see the help page).


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