World Dance Cultures Final Zār

Zār

Healing ritual in Egypt, Sudan, Nile Valley.

Where does this ritual take place?

ZAR RITUAL of NORTH AFRICAN NILE REGION

Maladies

Illnesses caused by zar spirit possession.

How to ward off Maladies?

They are placated through music, dancing, and sacrificial feasts.

Music and Dancing

Methods used to placate zar spirits.

shaykha

Female spiritual medium

How are Zārs viewed?

Ridiculed by male-dominated society, lslamic leaders, and governments. Thought of as pagan, polytheistic (in a monotheistic Islamic society) and manipulative to husbands.

'ayāna

an afflicted woman, or bride

Sacrificial Feasts

Ritual meals to honor and appease spirits.

Predominantly Female

Zar rituals primarily sought by women.

What happens when zār spirits possess someone?

no exorcism is possible, but they will protect an 'ayāna once placated by a "marriage"

Farah ma'a al-asyād

Private ceremony "Wedding with the Masters" Costly ceremony can last several days

daaq

rhythm

Who leads the drummers in a Zār?

The 'ayāna "bride" and the shaykha. Each zār spirit has its own rhythm, or daaq

shaykha in the Farah ma'a al-asyād

She also calls upon her own spirits (falls into trance), who help her in her and the 'ayāna's mission.

Zār spirits

Recognizable "stock characters," typical to the Nile region. They are believed to be found by water, or doorways.

What does a Shaykha do during a Zār?

while in trance the shaykha brokers an agreement with the spirits troubling her client (‘Ayāna)

Farah ma'a al-asyād performance

When the 'ayāna's possessor/s hear their daaq, they descend, and she goes into trance, "hosting" them. Various behavior ensues.

Farah ma'a al-asyād costuming

The "bride" is dressed in different outfits to attract the right spirit, and the rhythms will change

Societal Ridicule

Zar practices mocked by male-dominated society.

Islamic Leaders

Critics of zar, viewing it as paganism.

Trance

State where shaykha communicates with spirits.

What occurs after the Farah ma'a al-asyād (wedding)?

a feast follows, including animal sacrifice to feed the spirits

public zārs

After the private Farah ma'a al-asyād zār, women attend public zārs weekly.

Hadras

Public zar sessions held in Egypt.

What do Zārs provide for women?

an arena in which women, their spirits, her community, can voice her needs or power and feel exuberant afterwards.