A European Informational Website
learn more

Nubians

The Nubians are an ethnic group in Egypt and Sudan. There are more Nubians in Sudan than in Egypt and their socio-economic status is better in Sudan than in Egypt. Their language, which is divided into two main branches, is called Nobiin, and they are descended from the ancient Nubians.

Ancient Nubians many times have invaded and controlled Egypt. The converse is also true, as there have been long periods of time in which Egypt has controlled and collected taxes from Nubia. In armed conflict, Nubian warriors were well known as extremely skilled archers and many of them were employed as mercenaries in the pharoanic Egyptian armies. Nubia and Egypt, although distinct empires, shared the same religion in the past.

The Nubian Tribes in Sudan inhabit the region between Halfa in the north to north Aldaba in the south. The main Nubian tribes are from north to south are: Halfaweyen, Sikut, Mahas and Danagla. They speak different dialects of the Nubian language.

Archeological evidence suggests that the ancient Nubians were a blend of negroid and Mediteranean people. The Nubians of today, as well as the Arabic-speaking groups northern Sudan, all show a clear physical continuity with the ancient Nubians.

Prominent Nubian figures

• Mohamed Mounir, singer
• Ahmad Mounib, singer and musician
• Ali Hassan Kuban, singer and musician, Latino
• Hamza El Din, singer and musicologist
• Khalil Kalfat, literary critic, political and economic thinker and writer
• Haggag Hassan Oddoul, novelist and activist

Contents

• Prominent Nubian figures