Nubians

Nubians are native to Upper (south) Egypt and known for their unique language and darker skin complexion.  They lived simply along the banks of the River Nile for thousands of years, relying on agriculture and fishing for livelihood.  Their peaceful existence was disrupted by the Egyptian government’s ambitious plans to construct a massive dam in the hopes of bringing modernization and prosperity to the fledgling nation.  Built immediately north of their villages in the city of Aswan, the High Dam and its reservoir inundated Nubian towns.  Entire villages were submerged, and Nubians were forced to abandon their ancestral homelands.  Despite government promises of appropriate compensation, they arrived to uncultivable land, unfinished housing, and poor public services.  The few schools in the region taught children exclusively in Arabic to force assimilation.  Much of the Nubian language, history, and way of life have been wiped out.