Nubian Culture
The Nubians of Egypt and Sudan belonged to one of the oldest civilizations in the world. Ancient
Nubia (referred to as the Kingdom of Kush by the Egyptians) was an extraordinary Black African
civilization that rivaled that of the Egyptians. The Egyptian and Nubian civilizations arose
simultaneously, separated by 100 miles of Nile that was mostly unnavigable. Through the process of
cultural diffusion, both Egyptian and Nubian cultures highly influenced each other. (Cultural
Diffusion: the movement of customs, ideas and other aspects of culture from one culture to
another)
The Nubians have always had a strong sense of community. Their culture contains many festivals
and rituals that help create a strong social bond with one another. Wedding festivals can last over a
month. The Nile is an integral part of their rituals. The Nubians have converted to Islam, but they
maintain many traditional beliefs.