The Nubian Experience

THE NUBIAN EXPERIENCE: A STUDY OF THE SOCIAL AND CULTURAL MEANINGS OF ARCHITECTURE by Yasser Osman Moharam Mahgoub A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Architecture in The University of Michigan 1990 Doctoral Committee: Professor Leon Pastalan, Chairman Professor Harold Borkin Professor Paul Dresch Associate Professor Valerie Polakow Dr. Yasser Mahgoub – Doctoral Dissertaion –University of Michigan - 1990 - 2 TO MY LATE FATHER, MY MOTHER, MY SISTER AND TO MY WIFE EBTESAM Dr. Yasser Mahgoub – Doctoral Dissertaion –University of Michigan - 1990 - 3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS My gratitude to all who helped me accomplish this task successfully, especially the Nubians who made my research enjoyable, and without whom this research would have been impossible. The Nubians at Abu Simbel Village and the returnees at the lake shore welcomed me among them and helped me with everything. My gratitude to my committee members who provided their support, encouragement and assistance in accomplishing this task. They were always there to listen, encourage and provide feedback. My special gratitude to my wife Ebtesam who supported me during the difficult time of writing this dissertation. She was the friendly ear with whom I shared all the confusions and difficult hours of clarifying my thoughts and ideas. Finally, my special thanks to my friend and editor Pauline Kaldas whose critical and valuable comments allowed me to make this dissertation more readable. Dr. Yasser Mahgoub – Doctoral Dissertaion –University of Michigan - 1990 - 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION........................................................................................................ ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ..................................................................................... iii LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................. vii INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................1 PART 1 CHAPTER 1: DETACHMENT, CONCERNS, AND QUESTIONS.........................................6 The Egyptian Context ..............................................................................................6 My Experience With Architecture.........................................................................10 In Search for Egyptian Identity in Architecture.....................................................16 Research Approach ................................................................................................21 Context of Study ....................................................................................................23 Dr. Yasser Mahgoub – Doctoral Dissertaion –University of Michigan - 1990 - 5 PART 2 2: RESEARCHING THE NUBIAN EXPERIENCE.............................................28 Historical Background ...........................................................................................28 Field Work Experience in Nubia ...........................................................................38 3: EL-TAHJIR ........................................................................................................40 Getting There .........................................................................................................41 Being There............................................................................................................44 Fakhri's House........................................................................................................45 Daily Life in the Village ........................................................................................57 The Self-Help Quarter ...........................................................................................62 The Party................................................................................................................72 4: THE RETURN...................................................................................................79 Getting There .........................................................................................................81 Being There............................................................................................................91 Qustul The Return..................................................................................................96 Am Hassan's House: A Nubian Style House .........................................................97 Am Ahmed Hassan's House: A Sudanese Style House .......................................101 Sadat's House: A Place for History......................................................................105 Adendan The Return............................................................................................108 The Site of Old Qustul .........................................................................................118 Dr. Yasser Mahgoub – Doctoral Dissertaion –University of Michigan - 1990 - 6 PART 3 5: NUBIA BEFORE THE DISPLACEMENT ....................................................123 The Setting in Old Nubia .....................................................................................123 Meaning of Home ................................................................................................130 The Social Organization of Space .......................................................................132 History of the Nubian Dwelling...........................................................................135 Meaning of Parts of the House ............................................................................141 Building a House in Old Nubia............................................................................152 6: THE DISPLACEMENT EXPERIENCE.........................................................158 Political Atmosphere in Egypt Before the Displacement ....................................158 The Displacement Scheme...................................................................................162 Polices of the Displacement ................................................................................164 Planning of New Nubia Villages .........................................................................168 The Displacement Experience .............................................................................170 Problems of Village Planning and House Design................................................179 Changes Made to the Environment......................................................................183 7: SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CHANGES IN NUBIA ....................................185 Loss of el Aman ..................................................................................................186 Loss of Community Spirit....................................................................................188 Deterioration of Language ...................................................................................190 Change of Women's Role in Society ...................................................................191 Change of Costumes ............................................................................................194 Change in Ceremonies and Customs ...................................................................195 Generational Differences in Perception of Life...................................................198 Cultural Exchange................................................................................................202 Change of Economic and Political Life...............................................................206 Influence of Modernization and Technology.......................................................210 Museumization and Touristification of Nubia .....................................................212 Dr. Yasser Mahgoub – Doctoral Dissertaion –University of Michigan - 1990 - 7 PART 4 8: THE NUBIAN EXPERIENCE........................................................................215 The Nubian Experience in Three Contexts..........................................................215 Themes From the Nubian Experience..................................................................224 9: CONCLUSIONS AND REFLECTIONS ........................................................231 From the Nubian Experience to Our Own Experience ........................................231 What is Architecture? ..........................................................................................232 The Environmental Experience ...........................................................................240 Change of Attitudes Toward Architecture...........................................................242 The Role of Architects in Society........................................................................245 Reflections on the Egyptian Context ...................................................................247 Epilogue ...............................................................................................................252 GLOSSARY OF ARABIC AND NUBIAN WORDS.........................................254 BIBLIOGRAPHY................................................................................................260 Dr. Yasser Mahgoub – Doctoral Dissertaion –University of Michigan - 1990 - 8 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 2.1: Map of Africa, Egypt, and Nubia.....................................................................30 2.2: Map of Egypt and Sudan..................................................................................31

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