Nubian Culture
The Site of NubiaNubia is the region that located in today at
the South Egypt and the North of Sudan. Egyptian Nubia lay between
the First Cataract at Aswan and the second one at Halfa.
Historically Nubia has been a nucleus of diverse cultures. In 1964,
after construction The High Dam at Aswan, the Nubian people were
resettled in new communities at the north of Aswan near Kom Ombo.
Because of flooded water backed up after building The High Dam, all
Nubian villages were submerged under the lake known as Naser Lake.
Except a few of Nubian villages were survived because it lay far
from the submerged area, these villages still now having the
traditional style, it remains without much changes, keeping much of
its folk tradition that was in old villages. They speak the Nubian
language as well as Arabic
The Cultural characteristics of Nubian people
Cultural Differences manifest themselves in different ways and
differing levels of depth. Symbols represent the most superficial
and value the deepest one, with heroes and rituals in
between.Symbols Nubian people used the symbols to express their
believes and traditions, these symbols were translated especially
in Mural painting and house decorations. For example they believe
in evil eye, so they hanged the plats, animals on walls or draw
hand, eye or text to prevent this eye. Every unit of the drawings
and decoration is a symbol of belief. The Nubians use white colour
to symbolize their purity and transparency, and blue, to symbolize
the River Nile, and these two colours are the most popular colours
used in the life of the Nubians.Rituals Nubians have a
distinguished rituals especially the wedding rituals which lasts
for many days, all people in village invited to wedding ceremony,
they help each others and share responsibilities all days of
ceremony. The River Nile played a great role in the Nubian life,
most of their social ritual connected with it, like the weddings
ceremonies.Values In the Nubians life, the Value considers a great
and a hidden motive of their traditions, believes, customs and
folklore. The most noticeable values are belonging to the family,
faith, hospitality and collaboration. Finally, we can conclude that
the Nubian community characterized by purity, sociality,
Hospitality, having the ability to adapt with any kind of
environment. And still keeping the most of their old traditions and
values.
Nadia Ahmed Mohamed
www: touregypt.com
Nadia Ahmed , The architecture and folklore, A Thesis submitted
to the Faculty of Engineering , Cairo University,2007
Nadia Ahmed, Previous Ref.
