page_title: Shaigiya tribe
section_title: Culture
hierarchical_section_title: Shaigiya tribe / Culture
caption_attribution_description: Cheval de Dongolah
context_page_description: The Shaigiya, Shaiqiya or Shaykia are an arabised Nubian tribe in Northern Sudan. They are a part of the Sudanese Arabs and are also one of the three premier tribes of arabised Nubians indigenous to North Sudan, along with the Ja'alin and Danagla. The tribe inhabits the region of Dar al-Shayqiya, which stretches along the banks of the Nile River from Jabal al-Dajer to the end of Muscat's fourth waterfall and includes their tribal capital of Korti and parts of the Bayuda desert. Although speaking Sudanese Arabic today, the Shaigiya, like the Ja'alin, are known to have spoken some form of Nubian as late as the 19th century. This language, labelled as Old Shaiqi, was apparently closely related if not identical to the Nobiin dialect. Shaiqi tribesmen are among those along the Nile who have been affected by the Merowe Dam.
context_section_description: They are known for their bravery, generosity, and enlightenment. "They are the one to hunt the Lion." Freedom-loving and hospitable, they had schools in which all Muslim science was taught, and were rich in corn and cattle. Their fighting men, mounted on horses of the famous Dongola breed, were feared throughout the eastern Sudan. Their chiefs wore coats of mail and carried shields of hippopotamus or crocodile skin. Their arms were lance, sword or javelin. The Shaigiya are divided into twelve sections or sub tribes, each descended from one of the twelve sons of the founder, Shaig. Many jokes involve a Shaigi quarrelling with a Ja'li. Many times the Shaigi is the sharp, and Ja'li is the stubborn.
  They have adopted the tribal marking custom of cutting three horizontal lines on the cheeks of their children. This was done with a heated knife, but is now a dying custom.
caption: Dongola horse
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