Nubian people 1

Nubian people

Nubians

Wikipedia:Verifiability

Total population

1.7 million speakers of Nubian languages (SIL estimate as of 1996)

Regions with significant populations

 Sudan  Egypt

Languages

Kenuzi-Dongola, Nobiin, other Nubian languages; Sudanese Arabic, Egyptian Arabic, Sa'idi Arabic,

Religion

Sunni Islam, Christianity

The Nubians are an ethnic group originally from northern Sudan, and southern Egypt. The Nubian people in Sudaninhabit the region between Wadi Halfa in the north and Aldaba in the south. The main Nubian groups from north tosouth are the Halfaweyen, Sikut, Mahas, and Danagla. They speak different dialects of the Nubian language.In ancient times Nubians were depicted by Egyptians as having very dark skin, often shown with hooped earringsand with braided or extended hair.[1] Ancient Nubians were famous for their skill and precision with the bow.[2]

Nubian people 2

History

A Nubian circa 1900

Nubians are the people of southern Egypt and northern Sudan, settlingalong the banks of the Nile from Aswan. They were very famous fortheir horsemanship, for which they rode their horses bareback and heldon by their knees, making them light, mobile, and efficient, and a goodcavalry choice. Their Nubian language is an Eastern Sudanic language,part of the Nilo-Saharan phylum.

The Old Nubian language is attested from the 8th century, and is thusthe oldest recorded language of Africa outside of the Afro-Asiaticgroup. It was the language of the Noba nomads who occupied the Nilebetween the First and Third Cataracts and the Makorae nomads whooccupied the land between the Third and Fourth Cataracts followingthe collapse of the Kingdom of Kush sometime in the 4th century CE.The Makorae were a separate tribe who eventually conquered orinherited the lands of the Noba: they established aByzantine-influenced state called the Kingdom of Makuria whichadministered the Noba lands separately as the eparchy of Nobadia.Nobadia was converted to Miaphysitism by the Orthodox priest Julianand Bishop Longinus of Constantinople, and thereafter received its bishops from the Pope of Alexandria.

Old Nubian Manuscript

The name "Nubia" or "Nubian" has a contested origin. It may originatewith an ancient Egyptian noun, nebu, meaning gold. Anotheretymology claims that it originates with the name of a particular groupof people, the Noubai, living in the area that would become known asNubia. Scholars may also refer to Nubians as Kushites, a reference tothe Kush, the territory of the Nubians as it was called by AncientEgyptians.[3] It may originate with the Greek historian Strabo, whoreferred to the Nubas people.[4]

The earliest history of ancient Nubia comes from the Paleolithic Era of300,000 years ago. By around 6000 BCE, the Nubians had developedan agricultural economy and had contact with Egypt. The Nubiansbegan using a system of writing relatively late in their history, whenthey adopted the Egyptian system. Ancient Nubian history iscategorized according to the following periods:[5]

•• A-group culture (3700-2800 BCE)•• C-group culture (2300-1600 BCE)•• Kingdom of Kerma (2500-1500 BCE)•• Nubian contemporaries of Egyptian New Kingdom (1550-1069 BCE)•• Kingdom of Napata and Egypt's Nubian dynasty XXV (1000-653 BCE)•• Kingdom of Napata (1000-275 BCE)•• Kingdom of Meroe (275 BCE-300/350 CE)Nubia consisted of four regions with varied agriculture and landscapes. The Nile river and its valley lay in the northand central parts of Nubia, allowing farming using irrigation. The western Sudan had a mixture of peasantagriculture and nomadism. Eastern Sudan had primarily nomadism, with a few areas of irrigation and agriculture.Finally, there was the fertile pastoral region of the south, where Nubia's larger agricultural communities werelocated.[6]

Nubian people 3

Nubia was dominated by kings from clans that controlled the gold mines. Trade in exotic goods from other parts ofAfrica—ivory, animal skins—passed to Egypt through Nubia.

Modern NubiansThe descendants of the ancient Nubians still inhabit the general area of what was ancient Nubia. Today, they live inwhat is called the former Old Nubia, which is mainly in modern Egypt. Nubians have been resettled in large numbers(an estimated 50,000 people) away from southern Egypt since the 1960s, when the Aswan High Dam was built onthe Nile, flooding ancestral lands.[7] Some resettled Nubians continue working as farmers (sharecroppers) onresettlement farms whose landowners live elsewhere; most work in Egypt's cities. Whereas Arabic was once onlylearned by Nubian men who travelled for work, it is increasingly being learned by Nubian women who have accessto school, radio and television. Nubian women are working outside the home in increasing numbers.[8]

CultureNubian Egyptians have had a strong interest in the archeological discoveries of recent decades that have brought aricher knowledge of ancient Nubia. Nubians were often subjected to discrimination in Egypt before this researchbecame widely known. Nubians now take pride in their cultural history. Some express an affinity with Sudaneseculture, as many have relatives in Sudan. This common identity has been celebrated in poetry, novels, music andstorytelling.[9]

Nubians in modern Sudan include the Danaqla around Dongola Reach, the Mahas from the Third Cataract to WadiHalfa, and the Sikurta around Aswan. These Nubians write using their own script. They also practice scarification:Mahas men and women have three scars on each cheek, while the Danaqla wear these scars on their temples.Younger generations appear to be abandoning this custom.[10]

Nubia's ancient cultural development was influenced by its geography. It is sometimes divided into Upper Nubia andLower Nubia. Upper Nubia was where the ancient Kingdom of Napata (the Kush) was located. Lower Nubia hasbeen called "the corridor to Africa", where there was contact and cultural exchange between Nubians, Egyptians,Greeks, Assyrians, Romans, and Arabs. Lower Nubia was also where the Kingdom of Meroe flourished.[11] Thelanguages spoken by modern Nubians are based on ancient Sudanic dialects. From north to south, they are: Kenuz,Fadicha (Matoki), Sukkot, Mahas, Danagla.[12]

Kerma, Nepata and Meroe were Nubia's largest population centres. The rich agricultural lands of Nubia supportedthese cities. Ancient Egyptian rulers sought control of Nubia's wealth, including gold and the important trade routeswithin its territories.[13] Nubia's trade links with Egypt led to Egypt's domination over Nubia during the NewKingdom period. Egypt's language, writing system, and architecture were imposed on Nubia. The emergence of theKingdom of Meroe in the 8th century BCE led to Egypt being under the control of Nubian rulers for half a century,although they preserved many Egyptian cultural traditions.[14] Nubian kings were considered pious scholars andpatrons of the arts, copying ancient Egyptian texts and even restoring some Egyptian cultural practices.[15] After this,Egypt's influence declined greatly. Meroe became the centre of power for Nubia and cultural links with sub-SaharanAfrica gained greater influence.[16]

Nubian people 4

ReligionToday, Nubians practise Islam. To a degree, Nubian religious practices involve a syncretism of Islam and traditionalfolk beliefs.[17] In ancient times, Nubians practised a mixture of traditional religion and Egyptian religion. Before thespread of Islam, many Nubians were adherents of Christianity.[18]

Ancient Nepata was an important religious centre in Nubia. It was the locaton of Gebel Barkal, a massive sandstonehill resembling a rearing cobra in the eyes of the ancient inhabitants. Egyptian priests declared it to be the home ofthe ancient deity Amun, further enhancing Nepata as an ancient religious site. This was the case for both Egyptiansand Nubians. Egyptian and Nubian deities alike were worshipped in Nubia for 2500 years, even while Nubia wasunder the control of the New Kingdom of Egypt.[19] Nubian kings and queens were buried near Gebel Barkal, inpyramids as the Egyptian pharaohs were. Nubian pyramids were built at Gebel Barkal, at Nuri (across the Nile fromGebel Barkal), at El Kerru, and at Merroe, south of Gebel Barkal.[20]

ArchitectureModern Nubian architecture in Sudan is distinctive, and typically features a large courtyard surrounded by a highwall. A large, ornately decorated gate, preferably facing the Nile, dominates the property. Brightly coloured stucco isoften decorated with symbols connected with the family inside, or popular motifs such as geometric patterns, palmtrees, or the evil eye that wards away bad luck.[21]

Nubians invented the Nubian vault a type of curved surface forming a vaulted structure.[citation needed]

Prominent Nubians• Alara of Nubia, founder of the Twenty-fifth dynasty of Egypt• Taharqa, Pharaoh of the Twenty-fifth dynasty• Anwar Sadat, Late third President of Egypt ( Egyptian Nubian father, Sudanese Nubian mother)• Gaafar Nimeiry, Former Sudanese president• Mohammed Wardi, Singer• Mohamed Mounir, Singer• Ali Hassan Kuban, Singer and musician• Hamza El Din, Singer and musicologist• Khalil Kalfat, Literary critic, political and economic thinker and writer• Abdallah Khalil, Ex-Sudanese Prime Minister, co-founder of the White Flag League, co-Founder and ex-general

secretary of the Umma Party• Mohamed Hussein Tantawi Soliman, Egyptian Field Marshal and statesman, commander-in-chief of the Egyptian

Armed Forces, de facto head of state of Egypt• Jamal Muhammad Ahmed, Sudanese diplomat, statesmen, author, poet• Ibrahim Ahmad, Prominent Sudanese politician, first Sudanese head of the University of Khartoum, first

Secretary of Treasury, the first chairman of the Bank of Sudan, co-founder of Umma party, Author and negotiatorof the Sudanese Declaration of Independence

• Abdul-Rahman al Mahdi, Grandson of the mahdi, prominent Sudanese dtatesman• Muhammad Ahmad, 19th century Sufi sheikh and self-proclaimed mahdi• Jamal Abu Seif, Founder of Itihad, the first politically active group in the Sudan and predecessor of the famous

White Flag League• Sheikh Khalil Ateeg, Founder of the Day'fiya Ismailiya Sufi tariqa in the Sudan• Abdu Dahab Hassanein, Founder of the Sudanese Communist Party•• Dawwod Abdul-Latif, First mayor of Khartoum•• Mohammed Tawfeg, ex-Minister of Exterior, ex-Minister of the Media

Nubian people 5

• Mo Ibrahim, Sudanese-born British mobile communications entrepreneur, one of the richest men in the UnitedKingdom

• Idris Ali, Egyptian novelist and short story writer• Ibrahim Awad, Late Sudanese Musician .• Osama Abdul Latif, Sudanese businessman, Chairman of DAL group• Shikabala, Mahmoud Abdel Razek Fadlallah, Egyptian footballer who currently plays for Egyptian Premier

League club Zamalek SC,•• yunis Ali, Late Kenyan member of parliament for Lang'ata constituency - Nairobi between 1969 to 1974.

References[1] Dig Nubia (http:/ / www. dignubia. org/ maps/ timeline/ img/ b1540a-nubian-tribute-huy. jpg) – Image[2] Dig Nubia (http:/ / www. dignubia. org/ maps/ timeline/ bce-3200. htm) – Nubia: Land of the Bow

• Rouchdy, Aleya (1991). Nubians and the Nubian Language in Contemporary Egypt: A Case of Cultural andLinguistic Contact. Leiden: Brill Academic Publishers. ISBN 90-04-09197-1.

• Valbelle, Dominique; Charles Bonnet (2007). The Nubian Pharaohs: Black Kings on the Nile. Cairo: AmericanUniversity in Cairo Press. ISBN 977-416-010-X.

• Warnock Fernea, Elizabeth; Robert A. Fernea (1990). Nubian Ethnographies. Chicago: Waveland Press Inc.ISBN 0-88133-480-4.

•• Black Pharaohs - National Geographic Feb 2008

External links• AncientSudan.org (http:/ / www. ancientsudan. org)• Nubian people history (http:/ / www. africanholocaust. net/ peopleofafrica. htm#nubia)• Johanna Granville "Nubians of Egypt and Sudan Past and Present" (http:/ / www. scribd. com/ doc/ 13716966/

Nubians-of-Egypt-and-Sudan-Past-and-Present)• Nubians (http:/ / lexicorient. com/ e. o/ nubians. htm) by Abubakr Sidahmed (http:/ / lexicorient. com/ abubakr.

htm)• Nubians Use Hip-hop to Preserve Culture (http:/ / www. sudantribune. com/ spip. php?article16354) - Sudan

Tribune (http:/ / www. sudantribune. com)

Article Sources and Contributors 6

Article Sources and ContributorsNubian people  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=558446702  Contributors: 100110100, A12n, Aaron Schulz, Adeliine, Afbibwei, Ahmadpontymageed, Aldaron,AlecTrevelyan402, Ali-al-Bakuvi, Allamiro, Anak 1, Anthon.Eff, Antime, Arab Hafez, Bakilas, Bamsafa, Beyond My Ken, Big Adamsky, Bluefox13, Btilm, Caltas, Carindian1, Cgtdk,Charlesdrakew, Chasingsol, Chester Markel, Chris the speller, ChrisJMoor, Citygirl000, Colonies Chris, Contributor777, Coojah, DCB4W, Dans, DavidCiani, Dbachmann, Disdero, Djduejdmdjd,Dominic20, Dotshots, Doug, Dougweller, Drake Dun, Ec.Domnowall, ElliotJoyce, Euryalus, FinnWiki, Fluffernutter, Fsmatovu, Future Perfect at Sunrise, Gabriano, Gatewaycat,GeorgeClintonWiki, Gloriamerrier, GoingBatty, Green Giant, Gyrofrog, Halaqah, Hamuksha, Helge.at, Hon-3s-T, Huandy618, Ibrahim85, Interlingua, Irinysalib, Istabraq, J04n, Jaagup82, Jeeny,Jeff G., Jim whitson, Jimp, Joseph Solis in Australia, Jschnur, Just James, Kenndo, Keraunos, Khoikhoi, Kirei Neko, Kjetil r, Komikus, Konstantinos, Koryakov Yuri, Kuru, Kwamikagami,LeoNomis, LesDeux, Lettonica, LilHelpa, Look2See1, Magioladitis, Mahmudmasri, Manga60, Manytexts, Materialscientist, Mattg82, Medicineman84, Michael Hardy, Mild Bill Hiccup,Milkbreath, Mmcannis, Mogism, Moimei, Monegasque, MoritzB, Mutt Lunker, Mwr0, Myfrolive, Namiba, Nubia123, Nubiatech, Ogress, Olegwiki, Orijentolog, Ossama7, OttawaAC, PBS,Peripatetic, Prashanthns, Prince jasim ali, Ratluk, Rjwilmsi, Ronz, Rsm99833, Runehelmet, Saimdusan, Samatva, SchreiberBike, Sean.hoyland, SimonP, SnakeEyeJazz, Solidmelts2air,Soupforone, SpaceFlight89, Spencer leon, Static Sleepstorm, SteveSims, Tabletop, Taipeimagic, Tedickey, The Rambling Man, Thesunshinesate, Tide rolls, Tomasz Kudera, Tpb, TruthIsHoly,Tukes, Turrhall, Turzh, Txomin, Ulric1313, Ultra Venia, Uncle Milty, Velella, Vipinhari, Webclient101, Wedian, Yintan, Yobmod, Zaabolla, Zerida, Zeroblue10, Zhaneboy, Zhangmoon618,ZxxZxxZ, 410 ,أبو الحارث بن قيس عيالن anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and ContributorsImage:Egypt-Nubian wedding.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Egypt-Nubian_wedding.jpg  License: GNU Free Documentation License  Contributors: Originaluploader was Sms at es.wikipediaFile:Flag of Sudan.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Sudan.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Vzb83File:Flag of Egypt.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Egypt.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Open Clip ArtImage:Anglo-Egyptian Sudan Nubian woman.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Anglo-Egyptian_Sudan_Nubian_woman.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors:Frank and Frances Carpenter Collection (Library of Congress)File:Old Nubian manuscript.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Old_Nubian_manuscript.jpg  License: GNU Free Documentation License  Contributors: Clio20,Jastrow, John Vandenberg, Johnbod, Neithsabes, Pmx, Wst

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