All facts you would like to know about
the Nuba
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to our Nuba Gateway Web which is meant for making all know about the Nuba, as a
major Sudanese ethnic group. The site is dedicate to the Nuba and to our
beloved country Sudan. Wishing you all the best. It is all for you!
Yousif William,
NUBA LAND AND ITS FEATURES:
Nuba Hills
occupy what is known today in Sudan
as “ South Kordufan state” (see map), which covers an
area of approximately 30,000 square miles. It ismainly inhabited by
Nuba Tribes, together with other groups such as, Arab nomad groups (Bagara
subgrouped as : Hawazma, Rawauga, Messeria and Kawahla), some West
African groups such as Fellata and Borgo and finally, by other intermixed
groups such as the Shwabna and some ethnic groups of Tagali, Rashad and
Talodi. Nuba tribes mainly occupy the plains adjacent to the mountains, that
give each of the tribes its specific name. Regarding habitations, Nuba houses are usually made up of a number of
huts with thatched roofs, together with some granaries for storing grain and
wooden shelters known as Rakubas.
Nuba region belongs to the Savannah
belt which is characterized by abundant seasonal rainfalls which,
together with its vast stretches of highly fertile plains, makes it one of the
most fertile and productive areas in Sudan. The region is characterized by
multiplicity of Granite hills, of which it derives its specific name
( Nuba Hills). The hills vary in their sizes and heights and the highest
peak among them is that of Gebel Temin(4,789 ft.), followed by the massive Gebel
el Dair ( 4,635 ft.); moreover, the plains themselves are covered with
scattered trees in the northern part, that gradually thicken into forests
, as we move southwards. The main types of trees found are: Red Gum Acacia,
Haraz, Habil, Homeid, Haglig, Baobab, Gughan, Dom,Doleib, Aradeib…etc. It is
also rich in the variety of species of wiled animals such as: Monkeys, Lemurs,
wiled cats, leopards, Hyenas, Armadillos, Gazelles, Antelopes, Squirrels,
Skunks, Jackals, foxes, snakes, lizards and wide varieties of birds and
insects…etc.
The year as in the region as
in all parts of Sudan, is made up of three seasons namely, Summer called “Seif”
which is rather hot but not oppressive, starting from March to May, followed by
the Rainy season (Khareif), starting from May to October, in which the weather
is tampered by the rainfalls and crops are sown; on the other hand, pools of
stagnant rain water favour the reproduction of Mosquitoes and consequently the
spread of Malaria fever prevalent in this season. Starting from the end
of October the temperatures fall gradually, marking the commencement of winter
season (Shitta), in which the weather becomes rather cold and pleasant up to
February . It is cultivation time.
NUBA HISTORY:
Nuba Hills or South Kordufan, is a part of the greater Kordufan
region and shares its specific history as a region, together with the Sudanese
history as whole. Due to the insignificance of the area in the past, historians
relied mostly in writing its history on ancient manuscripts and documents
of the ancient neighboring kingdoms of Sinnar and Darfur, together with the
oral traditions of the natives of Kordufan(2-Kordufan and the region to the
west of the Nile, London 1912, p. 75); on the other hand, the specific
history Nuba people is linked necessarily to that of the ancient Nubian
Christian Kingdoms of North Sudan. The most probable hypothesis held on
by most researches considers Nuba “ancestors” as the “aboriginal original
inhabitants” of Kordufan region from the earliest epochs of history,
backed by the fact that the name “Kordufan” itself is believed to be of Nubian
derivative related to the two terms of “Kuldo”, which means “man” and “fan”
which means country (H. A. MacMichael, The Tribes of Northern and Southern
Kordufan, Frank Cass& Co. Ltd, London 1967, p. 1 ).
The Nuba are
mainly believed by most writers to have migrated from the north to their
present abode. But the truth is quite different that the Nuba as aboriginal
inhabitants of the Nile Valley,
Kordufan and some parts of Darfur had moved short
distances and not as mass immigration from their main areas, due to
multiplicity of reasons. Other ethnic groups such as Arabs, were the ones who
infiltrated into Nuba areas through migration and gradually intermixed with the
aboriginal Nuba inhabitant. This very admixture in northern Sudan
is what is known as the Nubians, that in addition to Arab blood they might also
contain Egyptian, Turkish
and Bosnian elements. Therefore, it is this very group which mainly migrated
from the north to the Nuba Hills and Darfur.
It is extremely important to know
the origin of the title Nuba itself, which will reveal some important elements
of their history as whole. The Greek title “ Nuba” was first used the Greek
writer “Aristothrenes” (born in 276 Bc.), to describe the native inhabitants of
the Nile banks from “Meroe” downwards; the same Greek Term (Nuba) later took
the Latin form (Nobatae) and (Nubai), to describe the native inhabitants
of the zones west of the Nile, which were believed to be originally form
Kurdufan or Darfur(MacMichael,pp.24-25). The term (Nubd) itself was used by the
Ancient Egyptians to refer to the “dark-skinned of coarse hair”, inhabitants,
found just next to them in south of Egypt, which were utilized as slaves for
the extraction of gold or “Nub” in the ancient Egyptian language, that was
abundant in their areas (R.C. Stevenson, The Nuba people of Kodofan
Province,Graduate college, University of Khartoum, Khartoum 1984 p.1).
According to Arabic language, the term “ نوبه”
is the plural form of the word “نايب”,
which means “bees” that fly and return “ نبو ” to their abode or hive, the title “Nob نوب”
is used to refer to them because of their dark colour, which is similar to that
of the “Sudanese” (لسان العرب). We can
generally say that the terms “Nuba” and “Nubiin” were used by the Arabs to
refer to the dark inhabitants or “the Sudanese”, the same term “Nuba” was
generalized later to refer to all dark inhabitants whatsoever, who
were considered as “slaves” who could be raided and enslaved.
The term “Nuba” therefore, is what was used to
refer to the “dark skinned”, which was gradually limited to be used only for
the inhabitants of Nuba Hills and some Northern ethnic groups of “Nubiin”
origin as “Mahas”, “Sakot” and “Danagla”. It is not the original name for the
ethnic groups of Southern Kordufan, nor in Northern Sudan, but it is what, the Arabs used to refer to them, which they later
adopted to refer to themselves as an ethnic group.
Regarding the link that exists
between the Nubiin languages of Northern Sudan with those of some groups in the
Nuba Hills, it is believed that there were some earlier migratory movements
which took place either by the Northern Nobiin groups towards Kordufan and
Darfur, or groups from these two regions, who moved in the opposite direction
and their settelment, which subsequently resulted in these similarities of
languages, and cultures to some degree and due to the lack of documentary
evidences, or even the possibility of most of the Groups of Nubiin affiliated
languages in the Nuba Hills and Darfur to trace back the history of their
ancient ancestors and their migration, we are left only with the option to
presume this link among them, somewhere and sometime in history, on the other
hand, the fact is that there are some evidences which support these links,
together with the hypothesis of the presence of the Nuba groups in Kurdufan for
long periods of history, that some hills in Northern Kordufan such as( Haraza,
Abu Matarig, Kaga, Katul and Abu Hadid), were inhabited by Nuba groups, which
were gradually displaced by the incursion of other groups such as the Arabs,
The Fong and Fur, throughout the different periods of history, which is obvious
today in the distribution of the tribes in the Nuba Hills, with the groups of
Nubian affiliated languages in the northern parts and those of Nuba languages
in the southern parts.
Its true that the region of the Nuba
Hills in the last decades had throughout history attracted many groups such as
Arabs, West Africans and other groups like “Ghudiat” and “Fong”, who came for
purposes like commerce, Grazing and Agriculture; this resulted in the
interaction and intermarriages between them and Nuba groups, together with the
adoption of some of their cultural, religious and linguistic elements, by some
of the latter. Another factor which affected the demography and their
distribution in the region was that of the slave raids, which were carried out
by different groups throughout history; first by the “Fungs” of Kingdom of Sinnar, in the middle of the sixteenth
century, in order to strengthen their army, then by the Arabs. The
Turko-Egyptian period was the worst ever, for the policy of Mohammed Ali was
that of obtaining slaves for their armies, money and domestic services, hundreds
or thousands of Nuba were carried out as slaves by the raiders from the
authorities or by other groups of (Nakhasa) or slave raiders, who later became
known as the “ Jellaba”, where heavy taxes were normally paid in form of
slaves. This situation continued until the period of the “Mahedia”, when slave
raids were intensified in order to strengthen the Mahdia forces, this situation
reached its peak in 1896 when the “Khalifa” ordered his commanders or the
“Amirs” to mobilize all the tribes under their administration to marsh with the
army to Omdurman and so entire villages on their way were both emptied and
destroyed. All of these factors together with those of earlier history pushed
the Nuba groups to seek refuge and fortifications in the hills.
During the Condominium period, there
was some kind of relative stability and peace, but the authorities were obliged
to send some punitive expeditions to some Hills, in order to control some
tribes were raiding others, together with improving the ways of collecting
taxes, and for these purposes some tribes such as Tira el Akhdar were forced to
descend from their hills, in order that the authorities may have an easy access
to them. In 1907 the region was divided into three administrative centres
(Kadgli, Dilling and El Liri which was later transferred to Talodi in
1909)(R.C. Stevenson, 1984, pp 62-64) and later in 1938 a co-federal system was
applied, by joining together the different tribes and ethnic groups in
co-federations and this continued up to 1955.
NUBA
TRIBES:
Moro, Ottoro, Heiban, Abol, Leira,
Koalib, Shawai, Tira, Miri, Acheron, Fungor, Kau, Nyaro, Lukha, Masakin, Kuku
Lumun, Tacho, Turuna, Lafofa, Kadugli, Talodi, Tegali, Tulushi, Keiga, Katcha,
Dilling(Ama), Nymang (Ajang), Tima, Katla, Korongo, Tumtum,Temin, Um
Danab(Teise), Lugori, Sabori, Tillo, Shatt, Affiti, Ditti,Kaderu, Julud, Wali,
Karko, Hugeirat, Dalokah, Daju, Ghulfan, Turuj,Tingal, Kajaja,Dair,Chioro,
Rashad, Tagoi, Tumali, Tumma, and Moreb, Alliri, Werni,Fanda, Kunit, Fama,Teis,
Tabag, Mandel, Tima, Hadra, Kamdang, Kursi, Buram, Kologi, Angolo, Talasa and
Kurundi,Cheruro,Belinja, Abu Hashim,Torogi, Kamda, Taboli, Shawabna, Gebel
Kowa, Kufa,Kwahleiat,Torona, Abu Jinuk.
The Nuba Mountains area is a “beautiful mosaic” of
languages and dialects, which vary considerably according to the different
ethnic groups, tribes and zones. Almost every Nuba tribe has its own distinct
language or dialect; moreover, it is usual to find certain languages spoken by
certain ethnic groups, having different dialects for the different sub-groups
compromising them. Arabic language has become for the majority of Nuba tribes
as “ Lingua franca”, which is used as a medium for communication with different
tribes; furthermore, the effect of the interaction of the Nuba tribes with the
Arabic culture, has resulted inevitably of adopting some Arabic words into some
of the Nuba languages and dialects, hence becoming in some way rather “diluted.
Trying to give an
idea about the languages and dialects spoken by Nuba tribes, I will simply list
them according to categories of languages and dialects, basing it on the
seminars on African languages by the famous linguist R.C. Stevenson, for the
University of Hamburg (Afrika und Übersee, spachen kulturan, Band
XL-Heft3,Verlag
Von Dietrich Reimer in Berlin 1956, pp.97-115; The Nuba People of Kordodfan
province, U. of Khartoum,1984,pp.8-9)
A- Linguistically similar
groupings:
1. Moro, Koalib,
Tira, Shawai, Fungur, Kau, Nyaro
2. (Heiban, Ottoro, Laro,)
Koalib.
3.Kagolo(Korongo, Katcha, Miri, Cheruro,Kadugli, Blenja,
Abuhashim,Kufa,Kuahleiat,Toroji,Kamda,Teis,Angolo,Tumtm,Taboli,Shat,Jebel
Kwoa,Fama, Keiga, Tulushi.Kanga, Tumma)
4.Temin, Keiga Jirru, Teisi Umm Danab.
5.Lafofa, Amira
6. Hill Nubian(Dair- Ditti, Kadaru, Ghulfan,Tabaj, Abujunuk, Dilling, W.
Kadaru,Karku, Wali.)
7.
Daju( Liguri, Saburi,
Tellou, Shat.
8. Talodi, Masakin, Eliri, (Acheron,Tacho,Turona, Kuku Lumun)
9. Nyimang, Affitti.
10. Tegali, Rashad,Kajakaja, Tagoi Tumali, Moreb
B- Dialects and dialect clusters:
Moro, Shawai, Fungur, Kau,
Nyaro, Werni, Lukah, Masakin, Acheron, Kuku Lumun, Tacho, Lafofa, Tegali,
Rashad, Tingal, Kajaja, Tagoi, Yumale, Moreb, Tulushi, Keiga,Kanga, Tumma,
Tumtum, Kamdang, Turug, Abu sinun, Chiruro, Liguri, Sabori, Tillow, Daloka,
Shatt, Dair, Kadaro,Gulfan, El Hugeirat,Dilling, Karko, wal
LIFE AND CULTURE:
The colour of skin
in the Nuba varies in degree from darker to fairer depending on the different
ethnic group. The same goes for the height, for we can find some groups of
taller giants such as the Korongo and Masakin Twal, while others like Tira are
stouter, but the majority are in between these two extremes. Generally, the
Nuba possesses a well-built body, which is due to some genetic elements
peculiar to them, together with the type of food they take. Another factor is
that they are hard-working people, due to the demands of life in an environment
like theirs, where everyone has to work hard to build his house, earn his
living through cultivation and other activities such as making beds, cutting
grass and trees. They are moreover characterized by their bravery, courage,
patience, kindness and hospitality, which together with their strong physical
structure makes them fit for all types of hard work; this obviously, had been
the main reason which exposed them to slavery and abuse by others.
In order to understand Nuba way of life and culture,
it is extremely important to know the structure of their society. Every Nuba
tribe compromises several sub- groups or clans, which might either be
Matrilineal (following the line of the mother), or Patrilineal(following the
line of the father) and the main laws governing each, regarding obligations, rights
and taboos. The first right for every individual is that of knowing his
belonging to a certain clan and tribe. This belonging to the clan and the tribe
entails that the individual has to pass through all the rites from the moment
of his birth, up to that of his/her death, as a part of the clan and the tribe,
together with the observation of the
specific
taboos according to the tribe and clan, where communion with the member of the
family, clan and tribe is shown during such events.
Birth constitutes
an important moment in the life of the individual, that marks a great moment of
joy for the family and the clan as whole; it is usually celebrated in some
tribes by having both the heads of the mother and the newborn shaved, as a sign
of expiation and purification together with the slaughtering of an animal as a
sacrifice, which they will share together as a family banquet. As the child
grows and reaches a certain age and together with his/her age group have to
undergo certain rites of acceptance into the appropriate age group, hence
becoming a full member of it and taking the full responsibility in what regards
rights, obligations and taboos. The rites of acceptance into the age group as
an adult, is an important moment in his life, for it is usually a moment in
which one has to prove his worthiness for such a social rank. This becomes
evident usually by the courage shown, in enduring its painful and hard moments
of cicatrisation with firmness and enthusiasm. They usually undergo a kind of
cicatrisation on some parts of their bodies, mainly the chest, the upper arm,
and the sides of the head for males, while for ladies it extends to their
bellies and backs, according to the customs of the their specific clan.
Individuals who carry out this process are usually experts in it. It is
interesting to recognize to tribe and the clan to which the individual belongs,
just by merely seeing them. In some other tribes the front low incisors are
removed, while ears and noses are pierced for wearing earrings and nose rings
and young people usually wear strings of coloured beads round the neck and the
waist for ladies as ornaments.
Women of some
tribes pierce the middle part of under their lower lips and fix a piece of wood
in it as an ornament. Most individuals smear their bodies with oil specially
ladies, wile others may use ashes instead or some special colours.
There are specific taboos for every
clan, which are to be observed by their members, such as some animals, which
they cannot kill, eat, nor even touch such as squirrels for some clans, because
of the special relation they believe to have with such animals. Some types of
food also such as (milk and meat) can never be eaten by members of some tribes,
together with members of other clans, or the wife’s mother who can never eat in
front of the husband of her daughter, out of shame. Breaking the taboos is
believed to cause Leprosy, paralysis or blindness for the one who commits it
and may extend even to his family, hence certain rituals of expiation or
purification should be carried out by the “ Kujur”, who represent the priestly
figure acts as a mediator between them and the spirits of their
ancestors.
Nuba tribes have special tribal
names for boys and girls which show their order by birth in the family, such as
( KuKu, Tia, Kori, Kafi, Kalo, Ngalo, Komi and Kunda) for males and( Totu,
Kiki, Kama, Koshe, Kani) for females, which varies from a tribe to another, but
the they should restart form the beginning again when reaching a certain number
and so it is easy to recognize the order of birth of the individual by knowing
his tribal name. Other rites for marriage, inheritance, burial and widowhood
follow the specific laws and taboos of the clan to which the individual
belongs. Marriage in almost all Nuba clans, usually takes place between
individuals who belong to different clans, because within the same clan they
are considered as brothers and sisters, on the other hand, the same goes for
close relatives who are considered as members of one’s own family.
Nuba people express their joy by
dancing and singing, for they are by nature a merry joyous group. There
are different types of dances, which vary according to the tribes and the most
famous of their dances are the “Kambala” in which men wear cattle horns on the
heads and “Bokhsa” in which pipes of gourds are blown. Ladies and women usually
sing, while others dance. There are many types of musical instruments used such
as “Rabbaba”, drums and a variety of other percussion instruments.Contests and sports are
important in Nuba society in which the young have to prove their strength. The
most famous types of contests are wrestling, stick fighting and fights with
wrings that have sharpened edges. These contests are usually carried out
between members of different clans of the same tribe or between different
tribes.
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