The Zar - Trance music for Women
From the Executive producer - Donna Sayada:There are many reasons why women are attracted to the Zar in the Middle East. Lower class women living in poverty are under a great deal of stress in their daily lives. Yet there are few if any outlets for them. Proper Islamic behavior dictates that women stay home and act with dignity. They should cook, clean and take care of their husbands and children. To go out dancing is not an option for them to blow off steam. Neither is seeing a psychiatrist if they feel depressed or suicidal. Mental illness as a curable disease is not accepted for the most part in rural areas. But the belief in spirits is wide spread in Egypt and Africa and dates back thousands of years. Even the Quran mentions The Jinn and other beings as God's creations, in addition to humans.Through a belief in spirit possession, women forge a social network that acts as a safety net for them. Their undiagnosable physical ailments allow them to dance and occasionally smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol. The ceremonies allow the adepts to forget their everyday lives and travel to the spirit world for a much needed break.Zar music is not meant to be performed on stage. It has little to do with modern Middle Eastern fare. But it is mesmerizing nonetheless, with an undeniable rhythm. It is raw and unpolished. It speaks of the desert and the region's long history. It is also disappearing, as Islamic fundamentalists crack down on what they believe to be animistic beliefs. That is why I wanted to preserve this music and present it to the world community - so that it is not lost or forgotten.