Listen to the Arousing Nubian Songs

Prof. Mekki Ali Idris from Mahas in Upper Nubia (Sudan) is an extraordinarily creative Artist, Musician, and Poet, who writes and composes his songs himself and sings them accompanying them brilliantly with the "Tambour" (or Kither in Nubian), which - together with the "Tar", the Nubian drum - is the oldest music instrument dating from pre-pharaoinc times still played today.

His many beautiful melodious songs are based on the traditional Nubian pentatone scale and Nubian rhythms, and express deep feelings and strong messages through the skilfully chosen wording, and often decries the injustices committed against the Nubians by the former regime. Mekki also wrote a three-part epic describing the recent history and traditions of Nubia, which he sings and plays on the tambour. His songs appeal as well to his broad base of devoted fans as to the general Nubian public. He also wrote poems and melodies for other artists. His dream is to set up a music school to teach the art to the new generation.

Prof. Mekki Ali Idris is not only an outstanding artist, but also a poet, philosopher, and linguist who published a Nubian dictionary together with other scholars, Mekki is also a renowned researcher in Nubian heritage and a staunch backer of the nubian language, Nubian rights and nubian unity, while suggesting that all ethnicities in Sudan should protect their language and heritage and contribute to Sudan's culture and civilization as a whole.