it is modern yet firmly rooted in the past the Nubian wedding ritual shared by
past the Nubian wedding ritual shared by
past the Nubian wedding ritual shared by the entire village for seven days and
the entire village for seven days and
the entire village for seven days and nights the air is perfumed by incense
nights the air is perfumed by incense
nights the air is perfumed by incense and filled with the sound of beating
and filled with the sound of beating
and filled with the sound of beating drums and joyful Nubian songs two years
drums and joyful Nubian songs two years
drums and joyful Nubian songs two years ago sharise family told him it was time
ago sharise family told him it was time
ago sharise family told him it was time to get married he visited every home in
to get married he visited every home in
to get married he visited every home in the village looking for the right girl
the village looking for the right girl
the village looking for the right girl then with one look at a beer he ran home
then with one look at a beer he ran home
then with one look at a beer he ran home to tell his mother he had found his
to tell his mother he had found his
to tell his mother he had found his bride they didn’t meet again until just
bride they didn’t meet again until just
bride they didn’t meet again until just before their Muslim wedding – you’ve
before their Muslim wedding – you’ve
before their Muslim wedding – you’ve done the first time I saw her when the
done the first time I saw her when the
done the first time I saw her when the shift came to sign the book I looked at
shift came to sign the book I looked at
shift came to sign the book I looked at her picture to make sure it was her
her picture to make sure it was her
her picture to make sure it was her Amara young body could
after the legal papers are signed seven
after the legal papers are signed seven days of celebration began each day early
days of celebration began each day early
days of celebration began each day early in the morning the party spills into the
in the morning the party spills into the
in the morning the party spills into the village streets the bride becomes a
village streets the bride becomes a
village streets the bride becomes a canvas painted from head to toe with
canvas painted from head to toe with
canvas painted from head to toe with henna one day before the ceremony
henna one day before the ceremony
henna one day before the ceremony the groom’s bed is taken outside to be
the groom’s bed is taken outside to be
the groom’s bed is taken outside to be bathed in sandalwood incense Sharif is
bathed in sandalwood incense Sharif is
bathed in sandalwood incense Sharif is also perfumed the sense which will last
also perfumed the sense which will last
also perfumed the sense which will last for weeks are meant to get his blood
for weeks are meant to get his blood
for weeks are meant to get his blood moving and give him stamina the Nubians
moving and give him stamina the Nubians
moving and give him stamina the Nubians traditionally lived along the banks of
traditionally lived along the banks of
traditionally lived along the banks of the Nile River in what is now southern
the Nile River in what is now southern
the Nile River in what is now southern Egypt and Sudan but in the 1960s that
Egypt and Sudan but in the 1960s that
Egypt and Sudan but in the 1960s that changed in Egypt the Nubian population
changed in Egypt the Nubian population
changed in Egypt the Nubian population was moved by the Egyptian government and
was moved by the Egyptian government and
was moved by the Egyptian government and their ancient lands were flooded when
their ancient lands were flooded when
their ancient lands were flooded when the Aswan Dam was built Mohammed Neuer
the Aswan Dam was built Mohammed Neuer
the Aswan Dam was built Mohammed Neuer migrated here at the age of 12 his
migrated here at the age of 12 his
migrated here at the age of 12 his family left their mud-brick home for one
family left their mud-brick home for one
family left their mud-brick home for one of cement built by the government even
of cement built by the government even
of cement built by the government even though they’re in the old village there
though they’re in the old village there
though they’re in the old village there was no electricity or means of
was no electricity or means of
was no electricity or means of transportation like we have here now
transportation like we have here now
transportation like we have here now still life there was better theater
still life there was better theater
still life there was better theater there we used to keep our nubian
there we used to keep our nubian
there we used to keep our nubian traditions and UVM language lesbian
traditions and UVM language lesbian
traditions and UVM language lesbian language could be endangered here today
language could be endangered here today
language could be endangered here today on the final night of the wedding the
on the final night of the wedding the
on the final night of the wedding the village is served a feast of meat and
village is served a feast of meat and
village is served a feast of meat and rice in front of the groom’s house
armed with the sword and whip the groom
armed with the sword and whip the groom leaves his parents home and leads his
leaves his parents home and leads his
leaves his parents home and leads his neighbors through the streets chanting
neighbors through the streets chanting
neighbors through the streets chanting Islamic songs
well after midnight the groom at last
well after midnight the groom at last picks up the bride and they arrive at
picks up the bride and they arrive at
picks up the bride and they arrive at the party
they spend all night dancing and singing
they spend all night dancing and singing from sunset to knew the word Nubia
from sunset to knew the word Nubia
from sunset to knew the word Nubia derives from an ancient term for gold
derives from an ancient term for gold
derives from an ancient term for gold and refers to the gold mines for which
and refers to the gold mines for which
and refers to the gold mines for which the area was once famous that gold still
the area was once famous that gold still
the area was once famous that gold still shines today as the bride is draped with
shines today as the bride is draped with
shines today as the bride is draped with jewelry as if she were royalty now past
jewelry as if she were royalty now past
jewelry as if she were royalty now past 3:00 in the morning but by nubian
3:00 in the morning but by nubian
3:00 in the morning but by nubian standards the party has just begun after
standards the party has just begun after
standards the party has just begun after the exchange of rings mother kisses her
the exchange of rings mother kisses her
the exchange of rings mother kisses her son and his new bride as they began
son and his new bride as they began
son and his new bride as they began their life together carrying on their
their life together carrying on their
their life together carrying on their ancient customs Egyptian by nationality
ancient customs Egyptian by nationality
ancient customs Egyptian by nationality but Nubian by tradition
”
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