The geographic isolation of Lake Chad in the southern Sahara has preserved a way of life little changed from ancient Egypt. The Buduma live in a manner similar to Nubian commoners along the Nile in the era of Pharaonic Egypt.
Evidence for this theory includes specific relict elements from ancient Egypt retained by Buduma culture. Kuri cattle with bulbous horns are specially adapted to a watery environment, likely the result of thousands of years of breeding. Papyrus reed boats are directly descended from ancient Egyptian boats used on the Nile. The Biram harp is virtually identical to the ancient Egyptian instrument.
Did the Buduma descend from black-skinned ancient Egyptians? The evidence is interesting, perhaps persuasive, but not conclusive. Genetic testing may provide stronger proof. The e-book covers six arguments that link the Buduma to ancient Egypt:
- Lake Chad is the only body of water similar to the Nile within caravan reach of the ancient Egyptians. Ancient Egyptian traders probably traveled to Lake Chad on the Abu Ballas Trail. The Egyptian funerary text of the Amduat likely refers to Lake Chad.
- The papyrus reed boats of the Buduma are almost identical to ancient Egyptian papyrus boats used on the Nile.
- The Nile perch was a major food fish of Lake Chad. The Buduma were unique fishermen in the Sahel.
- Kuri cattle are adapted to a watery environment, possibly the result of thousands of years of breeding of the Egyptian Hamitic Longhorn.
- The Biram harp played by the Buduma is identical to the ancient Egyptian instrument.
- The Budama speak Yedina, a Chadic language in the Afroasiatic phylum, which is related to Ancient Egyptian.
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Book Publication
by Guy Immega
- The Buduma of Lake Chad – a Vanished Link to Ancient Egypt?
iBooks Author essay, available from the
Apple iTunes Store, May 2013
or - Free PDF version
or on - Mother Tongue Editions (African language links)