In this introductory contribution for the thematic issue on the archaeology and art of the Nile Valley during the Middle Holocene, the authors question the current disciplinary frontiers between “Africanist archaeology” and “archaeology of the Nile Valley”, and beyond, between the latter and “Egyptology” / “Sudanology”. The two following papers open new avenues for a dialogue between Africanists and Nilotists on an area that has been under-represented in the journal Afrique : Archéologie& Arts so far.