Everything we know about the 'African tribe' who were living in Scottish woodlands

Scots have been left stunned this week after a self-styled African 'tribe' living in a local woodland was turfed out by the local council.

Footage of the members of the so-called 'Kingdom of Kubala' being led away by police did the rounds on social media, prompting a lot of curiosity about the mystery group.

The tribe, which consists of three members, laid claim to some land near Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders several weeks ago before being given the boot.

Here's everything we know so far about the strange saga.

Who are the 'Kingdom of Kubala' tribe?

The three-person tribe, who each dress in traditional African attire, refer to themselves as the 'Kingdom of Kubala'.

It is led by Kofi Offeh, 36, who dubs himself 'King Atehene'. He is believed to hail from Ghana and reportedly worked as a director of entertainment, retail, property, and performing arts firms.

Footage of the tribe's removal was live streamed on social media (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Jean Gasho, 43, is the woman by his side, who calls herself 'Queen Nandi'. She is understood to be from Zimbabwe and was formerly an opera singer.

The pair have been living in the forest alongside their 'handmaiden' Kaura Taylor, 21, who goes by the name of Asnat.

All three were handcuffed by immigration officers during the eviction on Thursday (2 October), according to the BBC, while they were each reportedly arrested on suspicion of immigration offences.

How long have they been there for?

According to reports, the trio have been calling the patch of woodland on the edge of an industrial estate home since May.

They initially set up camp on some privately owned land, according to the Evening Standard, from which they were evicted in September.

However, instead of completely relocating, Offeh, Gasho and Taylor are alleged to have shifted their belongings over a small fence before creating a new base there.

This second area involved land owned by the council, which was the catalyst that resulted in legal proceedings being lodged against the group, ordering them to move on.

The 'Kingdom of Kubala' members say they are reclaiming their ancestors' land (Peter Summers/Getty Images)

Why are they there?

The group have previously stated that they were living in the forest to reclaim land that was supposedly 'stolen' from their ancestors 400 years ago.

They alleged that they are a lost tribe of Hebrews, with their King a descendant of David the Messiah, while claiming their ancestors were cast out when Queen Elizabeth I deported native black Jacobites.

Offeh said that they 'do not believe that any authority owns the land' as the Earth belongs to the father.

He explained: "The prophecy said, after 400 years, when my ancestors are destroyed from the land of Scotland, from the land of Great Britain, they will go into captivity and lose their identity.

"But after 400 years, I will come and bring them back to the land of promise. I am following the ancestral call and the call of the gods," he said, describing it as a 'pilgrimage'.

His wife, Queen Nandi, said in a social media statement that they 'have returned to claim Scotland as our homeland', which was stolen when, 400 years ago, the Queen 'deported all black people from Scotland and England, who were not Africans but natives of the land'.

The trio were evicted from the forest near Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

What do they believe?

The Kingdom of Kubala defy local laws and claims that they only follow the rules set by their God, Yahowah - hence why they refused to recognise the eviction notice.

Offeh said they live 'a very simple life of returning to innocence' in the Scottish forest. He said they 'connect to nature' in the woodland and rely 'on the creator for food, shelter and clothing'.

The trio are said to have been bathing in a nearby stream while taking shelter in tents.

Scott Hamilton, the Jedburgh and district councillor, said he was 'very much relieved' that the group had been evicted.

"It has been a long effort by the local council, police and other services to achieve this outcome," he said. "It is the absolute right outcome today. The locals have had to put up with a great deal with this.

"This is an industrial estate. There are businesses operating from here - they have been put under a huge amount of pressure over the last few months.

"We have had to work through the courts and the law process and that does take its time but ultimately we have achieved the right outcome."