From our stories, “Makki”
Written by: Badr Al-Din Al-Ataq
Throughout the long historical extension of the Nubian civilization in northern Sudan, southern Aswan, Dhale and Bardis, the name of the late resident, great Nubian, Makki Ali Idris, appears, forming a symbolic icon of that civilization from which the present generation today and future generations will endlessly draw inspiration for authenticity, the fragrance of civilization, history, geography, and the borders between pyramid neighboring countries and the people of the region without a doubt.
On the final night of the memorial service for the late artist and professor, Makki Ali Idris, the organizing committees sent several messages to interested parties, specialists, the local community, Sudan as a whole, and the world at large, affirming that the ancient Kushite civilization continues uninterrupted through its people in the following directions:
1/ Establishing a Nubian cultural center bearing the name of the deceased, which is part of his ideas and aspirations that he strived to achieve during his life.
2/ Introducing a program to teach Nubian script to be included in the Sudanese educational curriculum. This was previously mentioned in the Nubian script course at the International University of Africa in Khartoum, followed by a course for those interested at the Abu Simbel Charitable Society Center in Cairo, which attracted over two hundred students in less than a week, indicating the strong interest in learning Nubian script and becoming acquainted with the identity and culture of a very important part of ancient Sudanese civilization.
3/ Observing the composition of the Nubian word from the Latin alphabet and hieroglyphs, along with teaching its correct pronunciation.
4/ The speakers focused on the importance of highlighting the man’s cultural, social, practical, professional, artistic, and intellectual standing, as well as his projects undertaken for the benefit of the region. They then thanked those responsible for organizing the memorial events.
5/ A final message to state officials emphasized the importance of preserving and recognizing the identity of the ancient Sudan region and teaching its local language to the younger generation so that a great civilization is not lost in the throes of globalization and modern digitalization.
In the same context, the early preparations were good for receiving the delegations from the two ethnically intertwined countries, who represent a large and very important part of the Nile Valley civilization that extends along the great Nile River. The Ewart Hall at the American University in Cairo was filled to capacity, while a heritage band led by Maestro Dafallah Al-Hajj participated to reflect the authenticity of the two peoples and the region and the different heritage of Sudan, with the chanting of national songs that ignited great public enthusiasm on the seventh anniversary of the glorious December Revolution 2019, in addition to a Nubian band that presented a wonderful Nubian artistic bouquet with which it concluded the night in the common local Sudanese-Egyptian dialect.