Ezzeldin Hajjaj, a second year student in the MA in Global African Studies at The Africa Institute, Global Studies University, participated as a language consultant in the Language Documentation Summer School (LDSS 2026), held September 21–25, 2026, at the University of Naples “L’Orientale” in Italy.
Ezzeldin collaborated with Professor Giorgio Banti of the University of Naples “L’Orientale” and Abdulkarim Othman from Eritrea on work documenting Nara, a language spoken in Eritrea and eastern Sudan, particularly the Kassala region.
“Nara is significant for historical linguistics, particularly for understanding its relationships with neighbouring languages, including Nubian. Its study may also contribute to broader discussions on the linguistic heritage of ancient Nubia and the still poorly understood Meroitic language of the Kingdom of Kush.,” said Ezzeldin.
The summer school was organized by the university’s Department of Asia, Africa and the Mediterranean (DAAM), in collaboration with Università degli Studi della Tuscia, ETHNORÉMA, and the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (unibz).
Originally from Sudan, Ezzeldin specializes in Museum and Critical Heritage Studies. His research focuses on heritage and memory, with particular attention to governance and decolonial practices that support cultural renewal across Africa.
Learn more about Ezzeldin’s academic background and research interests in his student profile.
