Jirtig

The Jirtig (Arabic: الجَرْتِقْ, also spelt Jurtig, Jertiq, Jirtk, and Jartig), or Nqekreh (Arabic: نقِكِريه) in the Nubian regions, is a term applied to a group of rituals that are practised as part of marriage ceremonies and, to a lesser extent, the circumcision of boys, mainly in Sudan. This custom is almost confined to the central and northern Sudan along the Nile and is related to the rites of protection and fertility. The ritual is popular among Nubians tribes including the Danagla, the Ja’aliyin, the Rubatab, the Mirfab, the Manasir and the Shaigiya. The Jirtig ceremony consists of various elements and is rooted in ancient Sudanese traditions dating back to the Nubian kingdoms in Meroe and Soba. Historically, the Jirtig ceremony draws inspiration from the coronation rituals of ancient Sudanese civilisations, particularly those depicted in Meroitic king depictions found in archaeological sites like the Sun Temple at Musawwarat al-Safra and Naqa'a. It symbolises the installation of kings and carries regal connotations, as the groom assumes the role of a king on this special day. The ceremony occurs in the groom's house before his departure to the bride's family's location. In December 2025, the Sudanese Jirtig was added to UNESCO's List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. The listing highlights its role during conflict and its place in Sudanese cultural identity.