WADI HALFA: THE ERASURE OF NUBIAN CIVILISATION

Have you heard of Wadi Halfa? The town sits on the eastern bank of the Nile River in northern Sudan, just 30 kilometres from the Egyptian border. 

According to archaeologists, Nubians have inhabited the region for thousands of years, at least as far back as 1500 BC. For millennia, it has been a crossroads for civilisations and trade.

The Nubians, known for their rich culture and elaborate architectural heritage, have strong ties to the region going as far back as the Kush empire when they ruled Egypt during the 25th dynasty in the 7th to 8th centuries BC. In the 19th century, Wadi Halfa served as a port of commerce between Africa and the Mediterranean Sea.

In this clip, author and content creator Abir Ibrahim (@itsabiribrahim on Instagram) reminded us of how the Aswan High Dam's construction in the 20th century displaced tens of thousands of Nubians from Wadi Halfa. Today, many Nubians remain marginalised after being forced to settle in places like Egypt, with their culture and languages eroded. Archaeologists have estimated that as much as 90 per cent of the Nubian civilisation's historical record may be lost. 

Now, Nubians in Sudan, Egypt, and other countries where they have been scattered struggle to preserve what remains of their heritage.

Video credit: @itsabiribrahim