First Look: The Color of Nubia in Aswan

As a Saudi photographer with a passion for cultural, human and heritage themes around the world, I strive to make my images windows to the past as well as reflections of the present.

When I came across this guesthouse on a visit to Aswan, Egypt, I was taken back to 3000 BCE to ancient Nubia. There were three buildings surrounding a tree-framed courtyard that overlooked the Nile River from its western shore. The guesthouse paid homage to traditional Nubian architectural elements, including a curved arch, and featured a color palette favored by those living in Aswan today—earthtones and vivid shades—that mixed with geometric patterns. Its high mudbrick walls were adorned with decorations illustrating traditions of a civilization brought back to life.

One building is a restaurant that serves traditional Nubian dishes prepared by those who have stayed true to recipes passed down through generations. The blend of vibrant architecture and authentic cuisine immersed me in some of Africa’s earliest kingdoms.

—Latifa Al Ajaji
@LAAM.PHOTOGRAPHY