The Old Nubian Script: Writing a Lost African Language

The Nubian languages of northern Sudan and southern Egypt were once recorded in a unique writing system: the Old Nubian script.

Origins & Structure

• Era: 8th–15th centuries CE, used by the Christian kingdoms of Makuria, Nobatia, and Alodia.
• Derivation: Adapted from the Coptic alphabet (itself from Greek), with added Meroitic-derived letters for Nubian sounds.
• Alphabet: ~35 characters (vowels, consonants, ligatures).
• Direction: Written right-to-left (like Arabic/Greek uncial).
• Case: Distinct uppercase and lowercase forms existed.

Usage & Decline

Primarily for religious texts (Bible translations, lectionaries, hagiographies), legal documents, and royal correspondence. The script faded after the 15th-century collapse of the Nubian kingdoms and the spread of Islam/Arabic. The language survived orally.

Modern Nubian Languages

Today, two main branches are spoken without standardized writing systems:

• Nobiin (Mahas/Fadicca): Northern Sudan / Southern Egypt.
• Kenzi-Dongolawi: Two closely related varieties in the same region.

Efforts are underway to develop modern orthographies (often Latin or Arabic based) for language revitalization.