https://face2faceafrica.com/article/how-the-egyptian-zar-ritual-of-exorcism-has-turned-into-an-art
Zar ( Zār) rituals have always been performed in secret in the past, as many believed the practice was associated with exorcism and demons. Most Egyptians would rather not have anything to do

https://theculturetrip.com/africa/egypt/articles/zar-the-exorcism-practice-turned-into-an-art-form
In the past, Zar ( Zār) rituals were carried out in secret as people believed in the association of the practice with demons and exorcism. It was condemned by some as evil, while others thought it merely nonsense. Today, however, ordinary Egyptians believe Zar music has powers of a different kind. Zar has transformed into an art form

https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2022/05/11/2003778066
Egypt's ancient 'zar' ritual puts exorcism on the stage. It looks like a concert of Egyptian folk music — a stage, lights and a mesmerized audience — but Umm Sameh is singing to heal the sick by driving out the demons that possess them. The music and dance ritual known as zar, with centuries-old roots in Ethiopia and Sudan, is

https://www.arabamerica.com/egyptian-zar-exorcism-ritual-to-cultural-phenomenon/
Zar, a dance ritual popular in Egypt, is attributed to have its origins in Ethiopia. The ritual most likely spread beyond the Horn of Africa in the 18th or 19th centuries due to the slave trade and became popular in Egypt as a form of exorcism. Today, zar is most popular in southern Egypt. The word zār possibly has its roots in the Ethiopian

https://folklife.si.edu/talkstory/the-zar-staging-an-egyptian-exorcism
Zar Spirits and the Mazaher Ensemble by Nicholas Mangialardi. On Wednesday evenings, walking past Saad Zaghlul street in downtown Cairo, you can hear the rhythmic thuds of hand drums echoing from an open doorway at the end of the block. In the Egyptian Center for Culture and Arts, the Mazaher ensemble is performing an exorcism ritual known as zar.

https://www.barrons.com/news/egypt-s-ancient-zar-ritual-puts-exorcism-on-stage-01652218534
Print Article. Egypt's ancient 'zar' ritual puts exorcism on stage. A stage, a spotlight, a mesmerised audience: it looks like a normal concert but Umm Sameh is singing to heal the sick by driving

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2022/05/egypts-ancient-zar-ritual-puts-exorcism-stage
A stage, lights, a mesmerised audience: it looks like an Egyptian folkloric concert but Umm Sameh is singing to heal the sick by driving out the demons that possess them.The music and dance ritual known as "zar", with centuries-old roots in Ethiopia and Sudan, is traditionally performed to ward off or exorcise jinn or evil spirits."We're not quacks or witches," said Umm Sameh, aged in her 70s

https://www.euronews.com/video/2022/05/10/egypt-s-ancient-zar-ritual-puts-exorcism-on-stage
Egypt's ancient 'zar' ritual puts exorcism on stage. A stage, a spotlight, a mesmerised audience: it looks like a normal concert but Um Sameh is singing to heal the sick by driving out the demons

https://www.news24.com/life/arts-and-entertainment/arts/egypts-ancient-zar-ritual-puts-exorcism-on-stage-20220510
The music and dance ritual known as "zar", with centuries-old roots in Ethiopia and Sudan, is traditionally performed to ward off or exorcise jinn or evil spirits. "We're not quacks or witches," said Umm Sameh, aged in her 70s, with kohl-lined eyes, large hoops swaying in her ears and gold bracelets tinkling on her arms.

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220510-egypt-s-ancient-zar-ritual-puts-exorcism-on-stage
3 min. Advertising. The music and dance ritual known as "zar", with centuries-old roots in Ethiopia and Sudan, is traditionally performed to ward off or exorcise jinn or evil spirits. "We're not

https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/music/the-fading-notes-zar-is-on-the-verge-of-extinction-in-egypt-1.579416
The fading notes: Zar is on the verge of extinction in Egypt. The ancient art form known as Zar, a healing ritual of music and dance led by women, is about to disappear from Egyptian culture. Mazaher ensemble perform the Zar each week at the Makan centre in downtown Cairo. Courtesy Egypt Music. Megan Detrie.

https://www.thevibes.com/articles/lifestyles/60992/egypts-ancient-zar-ritual-puts-exorcism-on-stage
'Old healing ritual' "Zar is a very old healing ritual, a bit like medical treatment," said Ahmed al-Maghraby, founder of Mazaher, which he says is Egypt's last group to perform zar in public. He set up the Makan performance space 22 years ago "to preserve this cultural heritage and archive local music from all over Egypt".

https://scenenoise.com/Features/mazaher-zar-egypt
Zar, an extravagant ancient exorcism ritual that's believed to have found its way into Egypt in the 19th century, is on the verge of fizzling away.Near Saad Zaghloul metro station, in Cairo's vibrant downtown, one Zar ensemble, namely Mazaher, continues to uphold the tradition by performing the vigorous singing and dancing routine, albeit in a performative context.

https://www.jordantimes.com/news/region/egypts-ancient-zar-ritual-puts-exorcism-stage
CAIRO — A stage, lights, a mesmerised audience: It looks like an Egyptian folkloric concert but Umm Sameh is singing to heal the sick by driving out the demons that possess them.The music and dance ritual known as "zar", with centuries-old roots in Ethiopia and Sudan, is traditionally performed to ward off or exorcise jinn or evil spirits."We're not quacks or witches," said Umm Sameh, aged

https://qantara.de/en/article/egypt-ancient-zar-ritual-puts-exorcism-stage
Traditionally, the zar ritual - found in variations across parts of North Africa and the Middle East -- would last several days and include animal sacrifices. A stage, lights, a mesmerised audience: it looks like an Egyptian folkloric concert, but Umm Sameh is singing to heal the sick by driving out the demons that possess them

https://www.dailysabah.com/life/religion/ancient-tradition-of-exorcism-healing-music-egypts-zar-ritual
Zar musicians and healers perform their ritual, Cairo, Egypt, April 27, 2022. (AFP Photo) Egypt's "zar" ceremony is a healing cult that drives out possessing spirits, sometimes called

https://academic.oup.com/cairo-scholarship-online/book/16033/chapter/171004965
Abstract. This chapter traces the history and origins of zar in order to elucidate how it migrated with Abyssinian slavery in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries to Egypt. It lays the basis for understanding zar spirit possession as practiced in Cairo from the nineteenth century until today. Following a short overview of the history and origin of zar in the Red Sea region and the reasoning

https://www.ancient-origins.net/videos/egypts-zar-exorcism-ritual-0018940
The ancient 'zar' ritual of Egypt is a captivating and enigmatic cultural practice that dates back centuries. Rooted in ancient beliefs and folk traditions, the zar ceremony is performed to exorcise evil spirits believed to possess individuals, particularly women. The word 'zar' itself means 'possession,' and the exorcism ritual seeks to restore harmony and balance within the afflicted person

https://qantara.de/en/photo-essay/egyptian-zar-ritual
The Egyptian "zar" ritual. The "zar" cult is a religious medicinal ritual with roots in the sub-Saharan region. The ceremonies are mainly held to cure mental illnesses, which are also interpreted as "possessions". Each ritual is led by a priestess and aims to appease evil spirits through sacrificial gifts, incantation songs and dances.

https://www.rfi.fr/en/egypt-s-ancient-zar-ritual-puts-exorcism-on-stage
3 min. Advertising. The music and dance ritual known as "zar", with centuries-old roots in Ethiopia and Sudan, is traditionally performed to ward off or exorcise jinn or evil spirits. "We're not

https://www.iol.co.za/travel/africa/watch-egypts-ancient-zar-ritual-puts-exorcism-on-stage-ae0d0315-349c-48f1-98d4-a44f7e355adb
'People have a very negative idea of zar because of the movies' in Egypt, long regarded as the Hollywood of the Arab world. WATCH: Egypt's ancient 'zar' ritual puts exorcism on stage

https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/32/98/33452/Folk/Folk-Arts/Egyptian-Zar-Supernatural-Tunes.aspx
Many shy away from the frenzied movements and hypnotic music of zars - Egypts exorcism ritual - but a bit of understanding may help revive the fascinating ancient cleansing experience