أغاني، موسيقى، رقص أراجيد, اللغة النوبية، دروس، كتب، النوبية قديمة, الأدب، الكتاب، الشعراء، الكتب، الشخصيات، التراث, الفنون البصرية، اللوحات الفنية، البيوت النوبية، السينما، الحرف اليدوية, التاريخ، ملوك النوبة، التطورات، النوبة القديمة, الأحداث والأماكن والمعلومات، المراكز الثقافية، جهات الاتصال، الروابط
Singing is the life stream of the Nubians. Since antiquity Nubians have expressed their love for music, singing and dancing, as witness the many artistic representations of musicians, dancers and singers in processions and festivities painted and engraved into the walls of temples, columns and tombs. Some of the ancient music instruments are still used by Nubians to this day. Accompanied by the rhythms of the Def, the Nubian drum, Nubian artists express their deep feelings, joy or sadness and frustrations in elaborate songs bearing a message of wisdom, of encouragement and of peace.
Inspired by the picturesque nature of their lands at the borders of the Nile, enhanced by the Nubians' tight-knitted, interacting and sociable communities and the serene stress-free life, all Nubians like to sing and to share their songs. While traditional heritage songs have been passed on since at least three hundred years and are sung by successive generations - each one adding its own artistic feeling and environment, the countless contemporary Nubian artists contribute a rich variety of new songs, mostly based on traditional Nubian music and rhythms. The Nubian child is born into his or her people's art-loving environment; the whole village community celebrates the birth by singing, and they sing while bringing the baby to the sacred Nile river to wash his face with Nile water - a ceremony mixing religion and ancient beliefs to wish and ensure the child a happy and prosperous life. Nubians sing at home, so it is obvious that Nubian children grow up sharing songs with their siblings and friends. At school, Nubian children like to sing together during their break between lessons; it is at this early stage that many future singers, poets and musicians develop their talents. While women sing while doing their homework or producing beautiful handicrafts, the men sing while working in the fields. After work they gather either in the home or sitting under the trees and - again - sing all together. There is at least one music instrument in every Nubian home, be it the traditional Nubian drum, the Def, of a lute - the Oud, or the Kithara - the Nubian tambour. The leading singer starts the song, which is taken over by the whole community which repeats the words or sings the refrain. Def players - usually three of them - beat the rhythm, enhanced by hand clapping by the community. Some of the participants dance traditional "Arageed" folklore dances, with varied rhythmic steps and weaving arm movements or coordinated to form an immensely rousing troupe. No wonder that Nubians enjoy singing and dancing for hours. During weddings or other festivities the celebrations gather the whole village community and last for hours. In contrast to the neighboring Arab populations, Nubians also sing songs with religious content - also based on appealing rhythms and melodies.
Nubians take their love for music with them wherever they go; during the long train or bus rides through arid landscapes the common songs provide a pleasant entertainment. As most voyages are done by ship, the captain of the vessel - whether it is a Nile felucca, a motor boat or a passenger ship - used since old times to entertain his passengers playing music and singing well-known songs.
Nubian art has withstood and survived many obstacles; in an effort to unite their people, in Sudan former governments led massive Arabization campaigns, during which music and songs from Nubia and other ethnic minorities were banned from public broadcasts. As many young Nubians left to the major towns for study or work, they were partly cut off their artistic heritage. Nevertheless, when ships came to Khartoum and the South with passengers from Nubia, singing their beautiful songs, Sudanese people from other regions came to the border of the Nile to hear them. In Southern Egypt two thirds of the Nubian lands were flooded after the construction of the Aswan High Dam, which drowned many Nubian villages under the rising Lake Nasser. Some of the inhabitants were relocated in villages far from the Nile river into arid landscapes and crammed villages, and they had to struggle to survive. Their songs acquired a new purpose. While old Nubian songs mostly glorify love, mutual affection, life wisdom and ethics or speak about work or longing for their loved ones who travel far away, Nubian songs became a stage to lament the loss of their villages and beautiful nature, the lands which carried all their memories and the roots of their livelihood, and to vent their anger and disappointment. Patriotic songs now mixed with traditional ones - and they are part of the songs played at wedding parties or other festivities.
It is Nubian art - and foremost music and songs - that allowed Nubian culture, language and traditions to survive. Even Nubian communities scattered all-over the big towns in the extended region, in surrounding countries and far away countries cherish their link to each other and to their mother lands. Foremost in Nubian regions themselves - but also wherever there are Nubian clubs and communities, artists gather in artistic sessions during which they share their songs and discuss the improvement and spread of their art. Some young Nubians are influenced by modern instruments and foreign music types, and some fuse them into rhythmic displays that keep few features of traditional Nubian art. Singing mostly in Arabic, they have large followings among the Egyptian and Sudanese youth.
From time to time concerts are organized by the various Nubian artists, many of whom recruit young men and women who form troupes and train to perform amazing dances, adding many elaborate and coordinated movements to the traditional ones. Nubian dance groups - even children groups - wearing traditional costumes are also displaying their art during various events, festivals or television shows, raise awareness for the culture of this people who has long been the victim of neglect even inside Egypt and Sudan - due to the lack of knowledge and racist connotations. Even in industrialized countries that have been focusing on Egyptian and Middle Eastern history for centuries, the Nubian heritage has long been denied. Only recently, thanks to amazing discoveries by archaeologists in Southern Egypt and Northern Sudan, Nubian history and heritage have been recognized and are gradually making their way into history books
Broader availability of the Internet is an essential means to tie links between Nubians dispersed over extended areas. Much efforts have been made to encourage young Nubians to embrace the art of their ancestors and to learn the Nubian language - as many families have abandoned it after leaving the Nubian regions. Many Nubian initiatives to teach the language, traditions and visual arts and to display Nubian heritage in museums and touristic villages as well as applications and websites all contribute to finally restore the noble Nubian art to its deserved praise and admiration. Take a journey on our website to share and enjoy with us the excitement, joy and deep feelings Nubian art can provide!
The Andandi Music Group is a very creative group of young artists who are acclaimed for their beautiful presentation of traditional Nubian songs. They participate in all major events in Upper Nubia (Sudan)
The Dongola Traditional Songs Group is another music, song and dance troupe from Dongola (Southern Nubia) who present songs from the Nubian heritage.
The Nubian Knights is a famous group of young talented musicians and singers from Lower Nubia (Egypt). They present Nubian songs and heritage at major events and TV shows.
Nuba Noor was one of the first Nubian music groups to be formed. They achieved fame in Sudan as well as in Egypt and occasionally perform on the international artistic scene.
The famous musician Shams Hussein is a referance in Nubian Art since the beginnings of its revival. He created his own music group, who is accompanying most great artists.
From the artistically very prolific town of Dongola in Upper Nubia (Northern Sudan) the beautiful Nubian Heritage Association sings and dances traditional Nubian Songs at events and TV shows.
Building on the heritage of the great late Nubian Artist Mohammed Mounib, the Mounib Music Band presents his songs and their own productions in a modern adaptation in Nubian and Arabic.
