Nubians

For the breed of goat of the same name, see Anglo-Nubian.

Nubians

Regions with significant populations
Egypt, Sudan
Languages
Nobiin, Egyptian Arabic, Sudanese Arabic
Religion
Sunni Islam, Coptic Christianity

The Nubians are an ethnic group in Egypt and Sudan.

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 (Sickkout), Mahas and Danagla. They speak different dialects of the Nubian language.

The Nubians today, as well as the Arabic-speaking groups of northern Sudan, all show a clear physical continuity with the ancient Nubians.

Nubians on Nile bank near Aswan

Prominent Nubian figures

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

Further reading

• Rouchdy, Aleya (1991). Nubians and the Nubian Language in Contemporary Egypt: A Case of Cultural and Linguistic Contact. Leiden: Brill Acdemic Publishers. ISBN 9004091971.
• Valbelle, Dominique (2007). The Nubian Pharaohs: Black Kings on the Nile. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press. ISBN 977416010X. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
• Warnock Fernea, Elizabeth (1990). Nubian Ethnographies. Chicago: Waveland Press Inc. ISBN 0881334804. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)