Mazaher – Community Healing Ritual

The Egyptian ensemble Mazaher brings the rare zar tradition to life: a ritual of drumming, singing and dance in which women play a central role. Polyrhythmic percussion and repetitive singing lead to trance and collective healing. Mazaher is one of the rare ensembles within the centuries-old zar tradition, a practice in which women play a leading role. This ritual of music, dance and healing occurs in various countries in the Horn of Africa and is still practiced in Egypt by an ever-shrinking group of women only. Zar is a community ritual in which drum, song and dance come together. The tradition is primarily carried by women and offers a space to process tensions and emotions arising from social constraints. Many of the original songs have since disappeared, causing the practice to be almost extinct in Egypt today. The music of Mazaher is characterized by rich polyrhythmic drumming and a powerful, repetitive singing style that differs greatly from other Egyptian musical traditions. In the ritual, an intense interaction emerges between musicians and participants, driven by drums and movement. That energy can lead to an altered state of consciousness, sometimes even to trance - an experience that works both physically and spiritually purifying. Mazaher is considered the last still-active zar group worldwide that maintains this tradition and culture. They state that this will be their final tour in Europe ever - a unique opportunity to experience them live.