Dongolawi is an Arabic term based on the town of Old Dongola, the centre of the historic Christian kingdom of Makuria (6th to 14th century).
Today's Dongola was founded during the 19th century on the western side of the Nile.
Dongolawi is closely related to Kenzi (Mattokki), spoken in southern Egypt.
More recent research recognises them as distinct languages without a "particularly close genetic relationship.
"[2] Apart from these two languages spoken along the Nile, three extinct varieties were included under Kenzi-Dongolawi.