Thread: Nubian - Sudani - more info please

Are Nubian and Sudani dancing two distinct creatures or are they the same?

I've seen Nubian and Sudani video clips named almost interchangeably so now I just wanted to clear up this confusion for myself.

Can you tell me what you know about Nubian and Sudani dance please?

thanks!

The part of the world that used to be called Nubia is now the country of Sudan. I'd guess at least some of the times they are referring to the same dances.

Originally Posted by SamiraShuruk

The part of the world that used to be called Nubia is now the country of Sudan. I'd guess at least some of the times they are referring to the same dances.

Adding to this, the northern end of historical Nubia was around where Aswan is today. In the 1960's, when the Aswan dam was built, it really destroyed Nubian culture because the lake it created (Lake Nasser) flooded the very areas where the Nubian people lived.

A number of the Pharaohs who ruled in Thebes (modern-day Luxor) were ethnic Nubian. Many magnificent ancient temples were inundated under water by Lake Nasser. A few, such as Abu Simbel, were saved, but the majority are seen only by fishes.

There is a wonderful artical in National Geographic I think the February issue on Nubian rulers.

Originally Posted by dujah

There is a wonderful artical in National Geographic I think the February issue on Nubian rulers.

Oddly enough, that very issue is sitting on my desk at work--it is indeed the February issue :-)

Originally Posted by shems

Are Nubian and Sudani dancing two distinct creatures or are they the same?

I've seen Nubian and Sudani video clips named almost interchangeably so now I just wanted to clear up this confusion for myself.

Can you tell me what you know about Nubian and Sudani dance please?

"Nubia" covers the southern part of Egypt and the northern part of the Sudan. So some Sudan (and Egyptian) dance will be Nubian - but not all.

To further muddy the waters "Nubians" are not a single monolithic block - but fall into about five distinct groups. As I remember, two of these are now living in Egypt.

Aida Nour mentioned Kanuz and Fadija as the Egyptian groups and her translator who was born in Aswan backed this distinction.