Spirit Possession Rituals in Egypt

Explore the world of Zar spirit possession rituals in Northeast Africa. Join us on a captivating journey as we delve into the rich cultural tapestry of this old tradition, shedding light on the captivating ceremonies, beliefs, and the deep connection between Zar spirits and the practitioners. Discover the mesmerizing dance, powerful music, and the profound significance of Zar in the lives of those who practice it.
Videos used:
No Comment TV: • Egypt's ancient 'zar' ...
When Spirits Ride Their Horses: vimeo.com/70081953
Find me and my music here:
linktr.ee/filipholm
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Also check out the Let's Talk Religion Podcast: open.spotify.com/show/0ih4sqt...
Music by:
Filip Holm
Sources/Recomended Reading:
El Hadidi, Hager (2016). "Zar: Spirit Possession, Music, and Healing Rituals in Egypt". The American University in Cairo Press.
Henkesh, Yasmin (2017). "Trance Dancing with the Jinn: The Ancient Art of Contacting Spirits Through Ecstatic Dance". Llewellyn Publications.
Wood, Connor; Saikou Diallo; Ross Gore and Christopher J. Lynch (2018). "Trance, Dissociation, and Shamanism: A Cross-Cultural Model". In "Journal of Cognition and Culture", 18 (5):508-536. Brill.
Chapters:
00:00 Disclaimer
02:29 Intro
04:32 What is Zar?
05:45 The Zar Spirits
07:56 Zar rituals
11:29 Hadra (Gathering)
13:21 Social functions (Zar & Gender)
16:08 Zar & Islam
16:46 Conclusions
#zar #egypt #jinn

[@TheForeignersNetwork]

Zar is a manifestation of wider sub-Saharan African religion. The idea of appeasing and serving spirits rather than getting rid of them is a distinctly African idea, and it's one that's common outside of Islam as well. There are a lot, a lot, a lot of similarities between Zar and religions like Beninois Vodun and Haitian Vodou, even down to the idea that spirits can have different ethnicities. It's very fascinating.

[@dalemsilas8425]

True. I had no idea they also practiced this in the North, its an interesting and fascinating thing.

[@gameboyhotline3712]

Do you this the trans Sahara slave trade has something to do with the spread of this belief to the east ? ( referring to Arabia )

[@TheForeignersNetwork]

@@gameboyhotline3712 possibly, although I'm not an authority on this subject so I can't really speak to that. If the tradition did originate in Ethiopia, I would say that it's more likely that it migrated northward simply due to its geographic proximity to Sudan and Egypt along the Nile. But if Arabs raided that area for slaves as well, then yes, definitely a possibility.

[@le2380]

Appeasment of spirits instead of exorcism is not unique to Zar or sub-saharan religion. (not yet king) David in the hebrew texts appeased the evil spirit inside king Saul by playing the lyre, calming him.

[@TheForeignersNetwork]

@@le2380 I guess what I was trying to say is that serving and appeasing spirits is a distinctly animist idea, and it is a central part of almost all traditional African religions. You could make the argument that this phenomenon also exists in South and Southeast Asia, but exorcisms are the most common ways to deal with "unwanted" spirits there as well. Most African traditions are centered around symbiotic relationships with spirits that intend to encourage possession and theurgy rather than simply presenting offerings to nature spirits. Even spirits that are potentially considered "dangerous" are served by practitioners in order to maintain balance in their lives, and can be contracted on behalf of believers for protection.

[@ruaismail3426]

I'm Sudanese.. I can say since my childhood all of our neighbors practice it 😂😂😂.. You be coming from uni and you smell the things they burn and you know your neighbors are having a little demonic party on a Monday evening. It's so normal in sudan at least in my city Omdurman

[@Mercy_bahr]

a little demonic party 😂🤣🤣🤣

[@bustedkeaton]

That makes it sound cool as hell

[@richadambudgen7520]

Are you in Omdurman now? Has the fighting subsided? Hope all is well.

[@ruaismail3426]

@@richadambudgen7520 yeah we managed to escape recently. Our neighbors are still there and it's rough rough man things. It has been serious shelling over the past 10 days.

[@richadambudgen7520]

@@ruaismail3426 alhamdulilah I’m glad you are safe but sorry that the fighting is still going on. I have visited Sudan a few times including Omdurman. It’s close to my heart. Wishing you all peace and prosperity ✌️

[@Nada_2018]

I’m Sudanese, grew up attending Zar so many times, the smells, the food, the music . As a child I was fascinated by it.. love that you spoke about it

[@LinulinaLo]

Zar is widely present in the Horn, Somalia 🇸🇴 Ethiopia 🇪🇹 and Djibouti. It’s embedded in the culture…

[@Malikmurad2010]

I am Ethiopian ZAR is a common practice in Amhara region of Ethiopia, I am an Amhara and my grandmother has a ZAR I know the songs and all the ritual and it is mainly practiced by ancient Ortodox Christians.

[@Xaviergonzalez85]

U people are scary

[@jayjaytr1849]

If the people who practice this are Muslims why don’t they just do it the rukya way since that way you can get rid of the jinn forever but as u said the zar way would only mean you can peace with the Jin in peace

[@seraphim51]

​@@Malikmurad2010wtf you talkin bout bro

[@almakhzoumabukhasham7351]

In Libya, according to Sufi belief, there is a form of social spiritual activity in which God and Muhammad are mentioned and drums are played. It is usually for healing the sick or in reviving spiritual celebrations. This event is known as Al-Hadra which is diffrent than Zar in many aspect. I hope you cover it in one of your videos because it is very important in mystic activity

[@alexanderkelsey202]

This reminds me so much of Santería in the Caribbean, down to the ecstatic dancing and music, spirit possession, male-dominated drumming subdivision (though there are increasingly more women drummers), and otherwise mostly women practitioners

[@abdulmajidmunshi973]

In Ethiopia, the practitoners are both christians and Muslims.

[@jasontravis3568]

Yes. It is very common amongst rural communities.

[@jasontravis3568]

Definitely as much amongst Christians as much as Muslims in Ethiopia

[@kitt3h]

Which is sad bc it’s been strongly condemned by the church

[@john-ic5pz]

​@@kitt3hikr it's sad that the church condemns anything that predates their control over the spiritual lives of the people. oh, wait did you mean it's sad the ppl practice things that the church condemns? 😢

[@kitt3h]

@@john-ic5pz wtf are u blabbering about? Our church has traditions, laws and doctrines that are expected to be followed by its members, and so yes it does sadden me when I see fellow christians take part in demonic rituals that is antithetical to our beliefs. Get it, degenerate?

[@saxonjohn8722]

I'm close friends with the scholar you quoted in this video Hager El Hadidi! We hang out at the same coffee shop! She is a really incredible and interesting person! I am so stoked you did this video on her book!

[@SadiqVids]

Respected Filip, Your previous video on Djinn possessions was amazing. Your simple explanation of those complex topics show how strong your research is. Liked this video👍🏻

[@LetsTalkReligion]

Thank you!

[@ChessPlayer78]

Awaiting eagerly for a video on Dussehra and Diwali...both are vwry importan Hindu festivals and the connection between these two is awesom.

[@hassan700xcx4]

I’m from Saudi Arabia and we have so many different Zar in the south and in the middle and in The east and The west 1-Zir 2-Samri 3-Azlaf /mahshosh 4-Zar shami 5-Zar yamani 6-Gabos 7-Zir ( every tribe and region have a version) 8-Samri thaqil ( its slow ver of samri) 9-Tanborah 10-Tag ( the main way of weeding and drums ) nobody give and 11-Alboos 12-Allib There is no slaughter or giving of any sacrifices,to jinns but only the rapid and strong beating of drums affects people, 😅and this is frightening-and not only women both men and women

[@charlenewallmark1187]

You are an amazing man and conduit to learning and connecting with faiths and traditions of this world we share. Thank you for all your hard work. 🙏

[@SeroSerereSeviSatus]

The description of initiation in zar is the same as candomblé in brazil, in the initiation you need to be from 7 days to a month isolated in the temple eating only sacrificed meat and offerings to the orisha (orisha are spirits of god) and the idea is basically the same so funny how similar it is, not just that the meetings are also the same in special days you have rituals open to public with music food…

[@aqsamaryambee]

Just to be clear, this is a cultural practice because this isn’t exactly sanctioned by Islam.

[@Pushing_Pixels]

@@aqsamaryambee You don't speak for Islam.

[@anthonyfantanosgirlfriend7346]

Acredito que a própria prática do zar tenha sido influenciada pelas práticas animistas da áfrica ocidental (que foram as mesmas práticas que deram origem ao candomblé com a chegada dos escravisados no país) só que ao invés dessas práticas de assimilarem ao cristianismo como ocorreu aqui no brasil, essas práticas se assimilaram com as crenças islâmicas ( e também o cristianismo no caso da etiópia)

[@twiggitytwig]

Thank you for your videos making culture and traditions different from my own accessible to me even if I don't know a lot .Your videos are really great

[@TarninTheGreat]

Fascinating. Thank you so much for sharing all of these over the years. 🙏

[@rowaneller8178]

This is absolutely fascinating, I came across Zar in my studies on Egyptian "demons" as it was mentioned in a paper on an account of an ancient Egyptian possession. Would love to learn more about the theories behind it's origin, looks like its time for research

[@MRawash]

It's definitely not Egyptian in origin, its entry from Sudan/Ethiopia in the 19th century is well documented, and even today, most of the practitioners inside Egypt are from that region.

[@jayjaytr1849]

If the people who practice this are Muslims why don’t they just do it the rukya way since that way you can get rid of the jinn forever but as u said the zar way would only mean you can peace with the Jin in peace

[@amyvonwolfenstein3254]

I am American born and part Lebanese. I was fortunate to begin traditional dances and learning many dance traditions, rhythms, spiritual practices, their corresponding music and history at a very young age. I even had the honor of experiencing many parallel traditions among women in exclusive and sacred spaces. I value the information, the integrity you present with, and the inspiration to continue learning these traditions with a greater respect for their lineage. It helps me also research the music more as well as give me key words for digging deeper where my memory had previously failed my continued research. Much love and thanks!

[@Rebellescum]

Thank you for this, i love egyptian Zar music (from what ive heard). I love the deep beats, its very deep and inner

[@silentkilla14]

Perfect video to watch now.!!

[@musa6353]

Its really interesing, great explanation. Great work. Much love from Germany ❤

[@Sublime__studio]

The word Zar comes from the Somali word Saar, which means to cast out/place upon. It is practiced extensively throughout the whole country of Somalia. Very interesting video as always Filip. Thank you

[@Sublime__studio]

@@noblecoon9522 what is random the meaning of the name or the practice?

[@manavsingh2974]

are you slow it does not come from Somalia there are many country that do far that don't speak Somali

[@Sublime__studio]

@@manavsingh2974I’m not disagreeing about how widespread it is but this video is about Zar rituals in the north/east of Africa and its possible origins.

[@slowraijin6944]

stop capping💀💀

[@LinulinaLo]

Correct

[@Yasmine_0_]

This is so interesting. I love your videos.

[@maryamalnaimi9480]

I’m from Oman and its also practiced here mainly on coastal areas

[@DonAtor309]

Cap

[@alaafarouk5738]

I'm from Cairo and I was living in Old Cairo. Our neighbors were a zar family, and they specialized in that kind of practice. This profession is by inherentence. And that practice now has almost vanished. There's still one place where you can find that kind of art open and you can join it. I don't think that anyone can find it scary. It should be having some self-expression through any dances and by following the music only. The really demonic practices are magic in Arabic it's "Sehr," that kind of thing can really give you a stroke. There's no scary movie that can be compared to these practices, the middle eastern people can relate and tell you how scary it is.

[@cheri238]

🙏❤️🌍🕊🎵🎶 Thank you, Filip.

[@BrendaBoykin-qz5dj]

Thank you,LTR🌹⭐🌹

[@Stephen17116]

Good call on the disclaimer. Great Job!

[@ewrvwergwergwergwerg]

I think it's worth thinking about what happens when a person experiences all the symptoms of "spirit possession" but in a society without these kinds of social intuitions specialized in dealing with it. It seems like *most* cultures around the globe have developed some sort of ritual complex operated by and for these kinds of troubled people. They're given a safe, stable, and oftentimes respected place in society where they're free to be themselves under the guidance of elders who have a lifetime's worth of knowledge for living with such an affliction. Obviously there's going to be aspects of any one of these institutions that can be harmful, but it seems like they play a very positive role for the particular kinds of people who need them. I personally don't believe in anything at all supernatural, but I think it might be worth it for modernized societies to take a serious look at these sorts of things for guidance on how to help some of our society's most vulnerable people.

[@NoaWarrior]

Easier to just throw them in a hole and pretend there's nothing going on.

[@London-Lad]

I adore you and your ShockTober specials.

[@thebestofu-tubebytheresaes5189]

You are awesome, live that your doing this…

[@saitogaika838]

Algeria and Tunisia have similar events called Zerda. Rather than it being about Jinns, they are often associated with maraboutisme; where people have a feast near the tomb of a local saint asking for a blessing.

[@iii1938]

Hi Filip! Kinda reminds me of the gnawa rituals in morocco where they perform a "layla" (night) where they go through the 7 different "colors" of the universe , also do animal sacrifice and play gnawa music with the gembri (inhabited instrument that only the maal can play). This ritual is also lead by a maalma and also involves women in a transe dancing until they fall on the ground. Interesting parallel from the west to the east of northern maghreb.

[@kenzadirie1376]

Same for the Algerian we have the Diwan

[@NissimAriel]

You meen Stambali ?

[@idrisa7909]

A few Gnawa songs are also used in zar according to the author he quotes in the video

[@viniciusazevedo4226]

wow Philip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! as a psychologist i very much apreciated the whole social functions of mental health, the gender question and the whole sense of comunity related to theese questions!!!! it makes me think a lot a lot a lot!! super thanks, i’ve never heard of anything like this. wow! im amazed!!

[@mastergaiato]

What? Vinícius, aren't you Brazilian? Zar has the EXACT same structure of Candomblé in Bahia. I'm really admired you haven't ever heard of the spiritual and psychological balance caused by the worship of Nature Ancestors mainly in black marginalised women of slave origin in order to, not only prevent mind shattering but to preserve African Bicultural Heritage as well...

[@cheri238]

Thanks!

[@lkriticos7619]

Really enjoyed this one, I'd not heard of any practices where the possessing spirit couldn't be exorcised before. And it's interesting.

[@nowhereman6019]

I find it very interesting how the approach of Zar to dealing with these issues is not to get rid of them, but to learn how to live with them. It's a much healthier way of approaching problems in the long term.

[@enlightenlife2840]

Nope! This makes them not leave the body at all and can transfer from mother to children's and generations after that. While the Islamic Ruqya literally get rid of this and the person can live a normal life instead of growing these jinns inside them.

[@krisf4969]

What a weak take. Accept your problems instead of dealing with them haha, pathetic

[@long90]

I dived deep into the practice of Tarantismo, practiced in the rural communities of Puglia southern Italy untill the 1950s. The practice is so similar to Zar! It's fascinating is very very close to it and surprisingly I never stumbled upon it in the literature about Tarantism. Something worth looking deeper into.

[@ZiaElohka]

Hadra is also performed in Morocco and Tunesia. And I wonder if there is a relation between Hadra/Zar and the Tarantella tradition in Southern Italy

[@petterhouting7484]

Or flamenco in southern spain. I think the spanish word "duende" is like zar.

[@ZiaElohka]

@@petterhouting7484 Duende is comparable with tarab in Arabic, being in an inspired flow. Flamenco has not to do with spirit possession. Tarantella on the other hand is all about spirit possessio, and just like zar and hadra 'managing' it with music and ecstatic dancing.

[@mooglymoogly3315]

Excellent work

[@hugodesrosiers-plaisance3156]

Hello Filip. That dislcaimer is one example among countless others on your channel of why people respect you and your material. Skal!

[@emmaa5975]

Hi, can you make a video on ‘dajjal’ ‘gog’ and ‘magog’? Ive been waiting for shocktober for a year now 😍 thank you for making good videos

[@MysticMountainNebula]

I love your channel. You’ve inspired me to read the Qu’ran, which I’ve been accomplishing through audio of recitations.

[@karezaalonso7110]

Not to discourage you but I'm pretty sure Zar isn't in the book.

[@MysticMountainNebula]

@@karezaalonso7110 I know, I just meant in general his content had pushed me to broaden my horizons when it comes to reading religious texts.

[@emmak.petersson9304]

I really dig your intro, and your animations are so cute! Did you create them? Its like your own perspnal Hilda cartoon but cozier 😍

[@djehuti5571]

I really wish to see a video from you about modern egyptian religious rituals and habits that have ancient egyptian roots

[@azy090]

This reminds me so much of folk Catholicism in the Americas. Often, these sorts of practices are demonized, but they are meant to do good, and people always ask for God's permission to carry out what they wish to do.

[@sLOTFY100]

I’m so happy you referred to doctor Al Hadidi. She is a beloved friend

[@g.b.1375]

Thanks for all the work that goes into creating your offerings. You do such thorough research and presentations it would have been good to have had you as an instructor in college. I hope it's permissible to mention here that there is a French film, Exiles, that has this ritual near the end. The DVD I saw includes several extras, one showing the recording of the sound track and another showing the recording of the actual ritual that occurs near the end. At the close of that ritual they leave the cameras on and show people recovering from their trance states. These people were not acting but were Algerians who participate in these rituals. Another film, Mystic Iran the Unseen World, has somewhat related recordings of Kurdish sufis going into trance states to the playing of daf drums.

[@anthonyfantanosgirlfriend7346]

thank you for the movie suggestions

[@wordsmovepoetry]

Very interesting

[@rez0nk]

Filip, thank you. Can you please upload these as podcats episodes

[@Ralia777]

Zar is also practiced in Somalia, and Zar is a Somali word,as pronounced Saar, means "to chase away" and must have originated in Somalia, as this custom of driving away the demons with music and incense has been practiced long before the birth of Islam.

[@TruthDigest]

this practice existe also in the east of Algeria.They call it Hadra which take place in weddings and Zerda.

[@MrMagicManAli]

Yayyyyyyy shocktoberrr

[@vcg7790]

Ok, not a minute in, and it already ‘sounds’ more akin to West African/Voodoo/Vodou possession

[@Mamluk8989]

It basically is witchcraft.This channel reports on things that Muslims do but working with jinn or magic takes you out off Islam.

[@floridapepe]

I'm from Cuba and my family practices santeria have heard similar stories about people being possessed by orishas

[@vcg7790]

@Butshikan89 I’m just making comparisons between religions for self-clarity and updoots here, m8. Don’t go in, fists swinging about heresy v orthodoxy v apostasy, aye? This is an educational vid, on a neat topic, and it’s presented with an open mind and respect to the practitioner-an argument particularly stressed by Phillip throughout the intro. Keep your derisions to yourself, and mind the use of ‘witchcraft’ ‘round here.

[@skywalker5575]

Just a human thing. Very similar practices exist throughout the world from east asia to india to siberia to isolated amazonian tribes. It even existed among europeans, middle east and ancient americas before the spread of christianity and islam. Polytheism, animism and shamanism were what every human on earth practiced before the spread of Abrahamic faiths starting from among the jews.

[@LetsTalkReligion]

'more akin' than what?

[@jamesonstalanthasyu]

Cool, last week I was lookin for other religious perspectives after watching Exorcist Believer.

[@VaghavVarna]

This some good shit homie, keep it up. Also, I have heard of some Hindu practices of possesion in the state of Himachal in India, hope that sparks your interest, and heck, even becomes a video idea, Much Love.

[@JuMPDesigns]

Sounds like an orisha(santeria) initiation, you eat the meats with the spirit, there's preparations to essentially prepare your body and spirit to properly house the spirit, then you are presented to the drums to dance the dances of that orisha so as to welcome it to earth via your body. Of course these spirits transcend country lines and names, so probably the same cast of characters. I bet similar food offerings and colors even cross over.

[@Razi290]

Filip, when are you going to do a video about the 'book of enoch'? Selam from ethiopia!

[@user-hn8jm7kw7j]

Hey I'm really liking your channel. I would love to hear you do a video on west African Yoruba religion and how they influenced Vodou, Santeria and other syncretic religions in the Americas

[@Vlakovrad]

Wonderful video! Can you talk about the connections between Jinn Possession Rituals and Ancient Egyptian Religion? Ie, were the Jinns of Islamic Egypt remains of Ancient Egyptian Gods? Thank you!

[@AminoSpeaks]

Theres something similar to this in Somali culture called Mingis, very interesting topic indeed.

[@maighaleb786]

Oh boy this brings back memories. See I’m Egyptian but first generation born in America. And the back and forth pull between both cultures made for an... interesting teenage experience. The funny thing is that most Americans thought I was a prude and a goody two shoes but my parents legitimately thought I was possessed by djinn. Lol. They sent me to misr at the age of 17, and I totally thought it was just Normal like every other time i went just seeing the family. And it was. But there was also.. exactly this.... lol. So I had never heard or seen anything of this before and they just kind of threw me into it. I thought at first hey party sweet! But I slowly started to realize we weren’t partying and eventually I was like is this a fucking exorcism? Lmfao and then the thought of me being exorcised of demons had my 17 year old self littlerally dying of laughter for some reason... which did not help the whole thinking I was possessed thing. lol. What an experience. I wish 17 Year old me was less of an ignorant little asshole. Lol.

[@aqsamaryambee]

No but did you get rid of the djinn though?

[@maighaleb786]

@@aqsamaryambee You know I don’t know but something tells me that there wasn’t a djinn it was just a major clashing of cultures and my parents had no idea what to do with me. Lol but this comment had me lagging so hard just no so thank you!

[@aqsamaryambee]

@@maighaleb786 I would engage further but you told me my comments make you lag My apologies Say Salam to your djinn for me

[@valeriesnyder2157]

Obviously you never had one attached to you but I suggest to you that you went through that for a reason, maybe one day you’ll meet someone who truly is possessed and you’ll remember what to do to help that person. I’m a believer in that we go through situations to know how to help others at some point in life.

[@Chiva.]

Lol, interesting. Do you still go to Egypt after that incident? It shouldn't traumatize you or anything. Egypt is beautiful ❤️

[@fl0atpvnk]

Shocktober! Filip has changed his hair colour 😮

[@jasserarias]

you should do a vid about vodou

[@313boss]

Can you please do video covering "dhul qarnayn" cyrus the great

[@VEDATOR_official]

Would have been nice if you included some of the music they play.

[@JP-zz7en]

Nice video. I want in a future video, you talk about shamanism in pakistan, in yhe northern regions many muslims practice it. And i see some paralellisms with the pentecostal christianity.

[@dylanroberts3666]

Anybody look into personifications of the Sophia or Cassandra motifs as possible spiritual activity?

[@Acoustic-Rabbit-Hole]

I am a person who sees a color-shape for each note. I am documenting this on my uTube channel here of the same name. I'm curious what KEY is used the music for the spirit "intervetions," and is it pitched outside of A-440 standardized concert pitch. (Generally, Scientific Tuning reference of A-432 Hz, or a higher Shumann Resonance pitch of A-444. - _The Acoustic Rabbit Hole_

[@Acoustic-Rabbit-Hole]

Hi. Ok, so C = Do = Red. D = Re, orange E = Mi, yellow F = Fa, lime-green G = Sol, turquoise/aquamarine I forgot to mention my own paige here, The Acoustic Rabbit Hole, where I document my color-hearing. I'm convinced (with proofs) that our hearing is color-spectral. C, as red, is naturally fiery. A-flat, as blue, is cold, distant. And I have hundreds of song examples. I am also beginning to study vowels in relation to drones, but at the moment I have cannot say for sure what "Sol", as ah "oh" vowel, means in a healing, or even psychological sense. What made you ask about "Sol" in particualar? _The Acoustic Rabbit Hole_

[@Acoustic-Rabbit-Hole]

I'm happy to help. I have just started my channl and I'm learning how to be a uTuber! It's strange, because I thought I would wind up writing a couple of books on my Theory of Pitch Psychology, and my new honey-come keyboard, my Musicolor Matrix. But it seems that it will be the internet that will get my work out! So i've become a filmmaker! // As a musician and singer i'm finding blending right into videos! Greetings from Bent, New Mexico, USA.@@Not_Attached

[@shotgunridersweden]

Theres a practice of jinn posession in Indonesian martial arts called silat as well.

[@jayjaytr1849]

Can you please make a video on how spirit possession rituals are made in different religions like hinduism Sikhism Buddhism

[@magickmagazine7675]

I have attended the rituals - and have even been asked to conduct one -I work with Jin on a regular basis (and yes, they have been my ‘constant companions’ since I was very small ) and did not know this - I have never connected the two. Women are very free and I saw them as a female liberation kind of rite. The room is heavy with incense and the music is loud. We were inside a kind of tent that was erected inside the building which helped muffled sound to outside. There were lots of cushions to fall on when you were exhausted. We dance - And swing our hair around -We eat two excess -Platters of sheesh kebab type meat continuously passed around - We share a loving cup of wine that keeps continuously being passed around and refilled during whole ritual. - we smoke cigars - the rituals I have attended did have a lot of Islamic women - which made the wine, very ironic - but it was not exclusively. Islamic - men were not allowed. We had had quite a few transgender people attend and they have a sacred role of attending the women in a way that expresses an understanding of being female them better than they will understand themselves - several of the musicians are transgender. And the musicians I have been with have been blindfolded, so that the women feel free to express themselves. Many times breasts out. There is a particular dance that we do where we swing our hair backwards and forwards, and then around in a circle until we enter an altered state of consciousness. Some of the women break into a deer, this style spinning dance. Sometimes women can fall over and vomit from being giddy - but this is rare and seen as not being in the zone. I have also attended voodoo rituals. And now that you have brought this to my attention, I can definitely see the similarity between the two.- thank you for another very good video - your information is deeply appreciated.

[@magickmagazine7675]

I have written quite a long explanation of appreciation - and for some reason, KZbin put a line through most of it - why is this?

[@amyvonwolfenstein3254]

This is beautiful. Thank you for sharing this in such beautiful detail.

[@Z10N4Z1]

The term Zar may have Somali origin. Saar means put on or cloak.

[@samantarmaxammadsaciid5156]

The Soomaali “saar” doesn't refer to a cloak that maybe placed on the person exorcised or on the dancing performer, the exorcist (as I have never ever witnessed, or heard the details of the stories, just overall that they exist). In any case, the noun “Saar” itself tells the story. As it's the verbal noun of the imperative root verb: “Saar”! = place or put something on top of something else as a supportive mode or transportive mode. With verbal adposition “soo” = direction of the doer of the action of the verb as opposed to “sii” = further reenforcing the direction of the ongoing action. “Soo Saar” = ( = soo baxi) take out, pull out, extract; yield out, produce. Hence, the masculine noun “Saar” indicates the exorcising or the extraction of the malignant spirit! I don't know or think both the Soomaali noun “Saar” and this “Zaar ٌزَار” have any common linguistic background other than they slightly sound the same and both about performance of dancing exorcism, as Zaar has a wider geographical spread beyond the influence that traditions of the Soomaali can have, it's more a middle eastern cultural origin!

[@Pushing_Pixels]

@@samantarmaxammadsaciid5156 There are similar practices across North Africa, and as other people here have commented, is extremely similar to practices in Brazil and the Carribean. It most likely travelled to the Americas from Africa, so it could have originated in Africa.

[@lambert801]

Somali 'saar' is itself a loanword from Persian 'sar' (meaning head).

[@samantarmaxammadsaciid5156]

@@Pushing_Pixels The noun Zaar most probably either Suudaani pre-Islaamic traditional belief or Habaši (Ethiopic) traditional belief! Most probably the African Red Sea side, but certainly it has no relation to the Soomaali noun Saar! As Zaar is representative of humanity's ways seeing human ailments and the beliefs associated in resolving it, it's not strange that different parts of the African continent or Asia have a common basic elements common but each ritual may have different origin and some may have influenced one another, and in the case of the Caribbean or south or central America go back to West Africa beliefs!

[@samantarmaxammadsaciid5156]

@@lambert801 The Soomaali noun Saar has definitely a Soomaali root as explained in my previous comment! As for Iranian Zaar ritual in southern Iran and all the way to Baluchistan in Pakistan I think it's related to wind! No relation to the Soomaali noun of Saar! I don't think Zaar is Iranian origin at all! Nonetheless, your belief is your belief!

[@marykayryan7891]

I really appreciate you trying to be respectful of this tradition. I am so tired of seeing beers and bars named "voodoo," that a little respect for the spiritual practices of others goes a long way. Thank you.

[@adamchapman6530]

Thanks, Filip! Ethiopian jews also practice this. Zar might have a Hebrew origin, it means a stranger.

[@eb9450]

No it does not. It comes from the root word “zwr” which means visitation. As for Ethiopian Jews, it is something we picked up from our fellow non-Jewish neighbours in Ethiopia, and frowned upon by most Kesim.

[@auraajah3072]

The khodam in the #keris weapon The Legendary keris of #mpu_gandring In the historical of #singosari_majapahit empire

[@asmamohammed6802]

Filip can we say that Zar is a shamanic practice like we see worldwide and does that mean shamanism was a global belief back then, or that it’s an aspect that will eventually be developed in any religion ?

[@frost8077]

That's exactly what I thought this video sounded like. It reminds me so much of how shamans have to work with their spirits or have their lives destroyed.

[@N8ThaGr8r]

Yall should read the book City of Brass by C.A Chakraborty

[@aezr4786]

This is actually a tradition in southern iran as well and usually it involves male practitioners and animal sacrifice

[@karezaalonso7110]

I know several people from the countries you mentioned, but none have ever told me about this practice. I wish you could cite some statistics which would indicate its use over time and in different regions.

[@hassank1688]

That may be due to the fact that it is socially very frowned upon as a practice to be done, for that it is both "haram"/forbidden and also indicates that the practitioner believes in irrational practices of exorcism. There's a huge stigma around such a practice in Egypt. I'm Egyptian btw.

[@hassank1688]

Yet, I also have to say that it's a bit more native to rural cities such as upper Egypt.. and it's also considered a bit of an old tradition that does not get done that much nowadays indeed.

[@circleali9967]

We have this is Somalia too we call it Saar. I knew it had demonic undertones but did not know it had to do with appeasing demons damn! In our culture from what my mum told me and videos I have seen online it is older women (usually grandmas with some men) that gather somewhere and start playing drums and music and dancing 🕺. I did not know this extended to other countries in Africa too maybe we got it from Yemen.

[@auraajah3072]

The khodam in the #martial_art

[@medtaha3094]

This is very similar to the Gnawa culture, which is popular in the west part of north Africa, the musical instruments are different, but the ceremonies are almost te same.

[@omniaabdalla5656]

The Zar in Egypt was brought by Sudanese migrants in the mid 20th century. It’s a new practice in Egypt while it’s an ancient one in Sudan…

[@auraajah3072]

Jin as #the_khodam Java mistic

[@chandanak1]

which instrument is played in 4:05 to 4:25?

[@hakim6158]

Hadras exist in Morocco too. We don't call them zars but hadra.

[@eyueltesfaye5364]

I am Ethiopian and I can confirm that the name is even called zar in amharic and some people practice it here but it is declining and i had a distant relative who used to practice it and he used to eat a flaming hot coal outright and munch it like a snack and yea its not just some simple mysticism its very very scary stuff and also its not just personification of emotions it is something else u have to participate in it to understand it there is a feeling of unease like there is something around ..... I dont know about the egyptian zar or the sudanese zar but here in Ethiopia it is extreme even some women will gain unhuman agility stamina and strength when they are possessed .... they jump an inhuman height(if the practice is outdoors) and it is like watching a scary movie in IRL u would think that they maybe have mental problem or stuff but when you see what they do and what they say about other humans that they've never met before you will instantly believe that they are not just humans anymore. Dig deeply into Ethiopian zar but I guess you won't find that many resource as the practice is declining.

[@gameboyhotline3712]

This have similarities to “ the Holy Ghost “ in the African American praise houses and in the early Cogic church, you should do a video on it but information on “ the Holy Ghost “ is hard to find and it’s secrecy is only known by spiritualist even tho it’s practice is still alive. It’s a practice so hidden that the practitioners aren’t in the know

[@thescoobymike]

9:05 what does “ethnicity” mean in this context? Does it mean that there’s like Irish zar and Ethiopian zar? Or are the ethnicities of a different category than human ones?

[@amirsosia2288]

There are spirits of different ethnicities, like Ethiopian spirits, Egyptian spirits, Moroccan spirits and even European spirits or Chinese spirits.

[@omarsheetan4417]

I thought Zar was an Arabian thing associated with a specific Arabian folkloric music like Samri and Khabiti in particular.

[@user-gr7wd4kg3e]

There is a study by Linda L Giles about spirit possession on the Swahili Coast... I believe she mentioned that in Somalia it was termed saar, and i think she mentioned there was a rather routine form of possession among some of the Christian groups in the area that are possessed by Muslim spirits. If i recall right, she said that the possessing spirits might prefer white clothes or wearing a kippah or not drinking alcohol or the like-- small changes that made employment easier there. As far south as northern Uganda, among the Acholi, there are Muslim spirits possessing Christian people, without particularly significant effects, given how we'd see it...

[@blackpang23]

is this related to Zyara in Tunisia/Morrocoo/Libya ?

[@Pushing_Pixels]

Very possible.

[@rabbiyohanan6823]

Interesting how similar Zar is to the african spiritual cults of Candomblé and Umbanda.

[@cliveambrose2251]

There are a lot of similarities with the Myanmar tradition of the Nat Kadaw, or the Nat wives.

[@alilicollection]

Is there an ethnic divide where most practitioners are souther Egyptian/Sudanese and or have said ancestry?

[@idrisa7909]

Many practitioners are Sudanese, but a lot are also Egyptians of various ethnic backgrounds. Zar tends to be practiced by members of the same family, but people whose family have no experience with it come to it as well (and subsequently may start a tradition of family involvement). Zar first came to Egypt primarily through Oromo women who were brought to Egypt to provide children for Egyptian men, and taught the practice to their children and other members of the household- these children and their descendants generally don't identify as Ethiopians in Egypt, and the rest of the house weren't Ethiopians. However, the diffussion of Sudanese people in Egypt is completely different, so people who came a century or more ago to Egypt often still call themselves and are seen as Sudanese. Many zar practitioners at one point were also Nigerians who practiced bori and that influenced zar, but I'm not sure how that diffusion has gone down. I know in the 20s, Cairo had around 50 Nigerian women active and notable in the zar scene

[@Tae.tech_and_engineering]

Brother I would request you to research and make a video on Ahmadiyya Islam a faction within Islam which is rapidly growing.

[@blackreazor]

Have you ever done any research about anciet drug use and other mind altering practices in the middle east??

[@regatta2k]

Zar ( in olden days) is widespread throughout the Arab world, not just Egypt and Sudan.

[@SeaShellsSeaShells89]

Zar sounds un-Islamic and also demonic. Yes, as Muslims we should condemn this practice and disown it. Isn't it obvious? The jinns want us to do things to appease them, for example dancing and playing music? Both of which are clearly disallowed in Islam. Nonetheless, it was still interesting to learn about this practice. May ALLAH keep us steadfast on his Deen.

[@bump458]

hello! i think it would be cool if u did a video on neopaganism specifically wicca because it is very difficult to find stuff (at least on youtube) that isnt like a “how to” style video. lots of love from the US ❤

[@outerlast]

can't you talk about those in southeast asia, like malaysia, indonesia, and philippines? i heard stories of muslim saints who had supernatural ability when they spread islam in that region, and we have some sheikhs and pirs who went there to learn occult power.

[@user-gw8nk3nc5q]

Al-Zar and these rituals in the Islamic religious concept are forbidden rituals as they include a number of matters that conflict with Islam in terms of conjuring jinn for various purposes, including treatment for injured people or to show supernatural customs at the hands of the practitioners of these pagan dances, and they are pagan legacies, dances and rituals coming from Africa. It completely clashes with what Islam has brought