A Crowdfunder to Publish Nubian Children’s Books

A Kickstarter campaign, Read, Write, Count (Geri, Fai, Omir; ⲅⲉⲣⲓ, ⲫⲁ̄ⲓ̈, ⲟ̄ⲙⲓⲣ), has launched to publish four children’s books in Nubian, one of Africa’s oldest written languages, to promote and improve Nubian-language literacy.

Taras Press along with authors Ramery Dawoud, Hatim-Arbaab Eujayl and Khalid Eltinaé launched the Kickstarter campaign on 21 May 2021. Ending on 23 June, the campaign has already reached $8,369, which is more than their goal of $8,257 on 31 May. Further contributions will go into launching audio books of Read, Write, Count.

The campaign seeks to improve Nubian-language literacy by publishing four children’s books using the Nubian alphabet, as well as a variety of other learning materials. Two of the books are beginner books focusing on reading, writing, and counting which target younger children, ages 3-6, and the other two books are storytelling books targeting slightly older children, ages 6-11.

The Nubian numbers book will be written by Sudanese-American rapper, songwriter and actor Ramey Dawoud. ‘Language is not only an integral part of our identity but also a bridge that connects us with our past. Through language, we discover parts of ourselves we may never have met otherwise. Nubian, like all indigenous languages found in Sudan and the Nile Valley, played a crucial role in birthing the civilizations that have passed along the Nile river. By saving or even attempting to save them we will be opening doors that reveal portions of our story that have been locked away for centuries,’ said Dawoud.

The alphabet book and bilingual storybook based on Nubian and Sudanese history will be written by font designer and illustrator Hatim-Arbaab Eujayl. ‘Language often defines the boundaries of your world. Before seeking out to learn Nobiin, my conception of my history and of the history of this region was unbelievably narrow. One of many things I hope the project does is help others expand their world through the power of language, and also through the power of storytelling,’ said Eujayl.

Another storybook interweaves Nubian vocabulary will be written by award-winning poet Khalid Eltinaé. ‘The ethos of my storybook, “Sisters of the Water”, is rooted in the revival of collective memory and the inheritance of Nubian culture and language. It is a real honour to be able to plant these uplifting stories infused with magical realism and historical landmarks in the hearts and minds of young readers everywhere through this exciting project Geri Fai Omir,’ said Eltinaé.

This marks a one-of-a-kind moment in the efforts to preserve indigenous languages in Sudan and Egypt, being the first Nubian-language books of this nature to be published with a font that accurately represents the Old Nubian alphabet used in Sudan and Egypt. 

‘Language brings people together, and I’ve had the pleasure of being welcomed into so many communities and homes in Sudan through Arabic, and now to the online spaces that Nubians are creating. The opportunity to have some small role in collaborating with these amazing creatives in some of the typographic and publishing details to make that space visually reflect the rich legacy of Nubian writing, has been such a privilege,’ said Joel Mitchell of publisher, Taras Press.

The books will be published in the UK, and will be distributed globally.

For more information or to contribute to the campaign, visit kck.st/3ozgv7f and find them on social media at @gerifaiomir.