A woman reported missing by her family in Texas has been discovered living with a self-declared “lost African” tribe in the forests near Jedburgh, Scotland.
The group, known as the Kingdom of Kubala, claims to have settled in the area to reclaim land they say was stolen from their ancestors in the Scottish Highlands over 400 years ago.
The tribe is led by King Atehene, 36, a former opera singer who performed under the name Kofi Offeh. Alongside him are his wife, Queen Nandi, and their handmaiden, Lady Safi—who has now been identified as Kaura Taylor, the missing woman from Texas.
In a video message from the camp, Kaura Taylor asserted, “To the UK authorities, obviously I am not missing. Leave me alone. I’m an adult, not a helpless child.”
The Kingdom of Kubala say they do not recognize local laws and have faced hostility, including eviction notices and even an attack on their camp where tents were set on fire. They insist they only follow the laws of their God, Yahowah.
King Atehene claims descent from the Messiah and describes their lifestyle as simple and deeply connected to nature. “We live a very simple life of returning to innocence,” he said. “We bathe in the springwater, live in tents without walls, and rely daily on the creator for food, shelter, and clothing.”
He added that many people, including government officials, judge the group without understanding their beliefs and customs. “The Kingdom of Kubala has suffered trials and tribulations from authorities who do not tolerate us, but we cannot be destroyed because we are protected by the creator of the heavens and the earth.”
The tribe claims to be descendants of lost Hebrew tribes, stating their ancestors were black Jacobites deported by Queen Elizabeth I. They assert that their King is descended from David the Messiah and that Scotland was once their homeland.
King Atehene described their presence in Scotland as a pilgrimage to fulfill a prophecy about reclaiming their ancestral land after 400 years in captivity. “The prophecy said that after 400 years, when my ancestors were destroyed in Scotland and Great Britain, they would lose their identity—but I will bring them back to the land of promise,” he said.
Queen Nandi, born Jean Gasho, shared on social media: “We are the Lost Tribes of Hebrews and have returned to claim Scotland as our homeland—a land stolen by Elizabeth I when she deported black natives 400 years ago. Jacobites were black, descendants of Jacob, a black man. Jerusalem is in Scotland, and our King is the seed of David, the Messiah. The Second Exodus has begun.”
The Scottish Borders Council stated it is working with Police Scotland to manage the situation and provide advice and support, including housing options for the group.
