CAIRO — Some Nubian women have left their region's villages to make their own way, either by completing their studies or seeking out new job opportunities, and have succeeded in integrating into the world outside their societies. Others remain constrained by Nubia's traditional mores and customs. Still others have gradually moved away from those traditions. Nevertheless, the bonds of marriage continue to stand, as families insist that Nubian women marry Nubian men in order to preserve the Nubian heritage throughout their lives, according to accounts given by Nubian girls to Al-Monitor.

Nubia is located in southern Egypt along the Nile River and extends into northern Sudan. It is characterized by a local cultural heritage distinct from the rest of the Nile River Valley, as reflected in their traditions and customs, as well as their various forms of art and architecture. The area's geographic isolation and linguistic distinctiveness reinforces the importance of Nubian women marrying Nubian men. On the other hand, Nubian men are often free to marry whomever they desire. Some women believe in the importance of marrying a Nubian man in the conviction that they are the only ones capable of protecting them, while comparatively few are willing to embark on the difficult course of attempting to marry outside of Nubia.

Asma Mahmoud, the organizer of the Alternatives Forum in Cairo, told Al-Monitor that discussion of the issue of marriage of Nubian women outside of their societies is met with severe hostility. "I found it extremely difficult to deal with non-Nubians. All of my friends were Nubians, and I was afraid to speak with anyone else," she said. "I believed that Nubians were the greatest people on the earth, but my perspective changed, and I made friends with people from other provinces [in Egypt]."

For all that, Mahmoud rejects the idea of marrying anyone other than a Nubian, and in fact rebuffed proposals of marriage from non-Nubians. "I personally wouldn't feel comfortable if I married a non-Nubian, because they're alien to Nuba. We're a society within a society; we have our own unique songs, our own customs, and [more than that] we believe that our society is complete by itself. It doesn't want for anything."