South Africa is first country to ban antisemitic conspiracy film saying Jews now aren't 'real Jews'

South Africa has become the first nation to ban the screening and distribution of an antisemitic film titled "Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America." The 2018 documentary contends that Black people are the true descendants of biblical Israelites, and that contemporary Jews are not genuine Jews. It also alleges an international Jewish conspiracy aimed at defrauding Black individuals. The film was exhibited in June 2023 at the Soweto Theatre and reported to the ombudsman by South Africa's Jewish community.

South Africa's Film and Publication Board (FPB) deemed the movie unsuitable for classification, stating it failed to meet documentary criteria. It was found to promote hatred based on an identifiable group characteristic and incite harm through Holocaust denial, dehumanization, and the dissemination of antisemitic views. The FPB warned that disseminating the film publicly, selling it, or advertising it would result in legal consequences, including fines or imprisonment.

The FPB's decision to ban the film came in December 2025 after receiving a complaint from the South African Jewish Board of Deputies. The ruling was only officially announced in October 2026, which explains the delayed reporting. The South African Jewish Board of Deputies expressed satisfaction with the FPB's strong stance, emphasizing that freedom of expression should not permit hate speech against an entire group.

Despite widespread criticism, "Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America" remains available for purchase in the United States, United Kingdom, and internationally on Amazon. However, some retailers, like Barnes and Noble, have removed the film from their offerings. NBA player Kyrie Irving gained notoriety in October 2022 for sharing the film's link on X/Twitter, later apologizing for his actions.