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Zār or Zaar (Arabic: زار) is a religious custom apparently originating in central Ethiopia during the 18th century and later spreading throughout East and North Africa. Zār custom involves the possession of an individual (usually female) by a spirit. It is also observed in Egypt, Sudan, Somalia, southern Iran〔Modarressi, Taghi. 1968. ''The zar cult in south Iran. In Trance and possession states''. ed. Raymond Prince. Montreal: R. M. Bucke Memorial Society〕 and elsewhere in the Middle East. A featured musical instrument in the Zār ritual is the ''tanbura'', a six-string lyre (6-stringed "bowl-lyre"〔Makris 2000, p. 52〕), which, like the Zār practice itself, exists in various forms in an area stretching from East Africa to the Arabian Peninsula. Other instruments include the ''mangour'', a leather belt sewn with many goat hooves, and various percussion instruments.〔 The Zār cult served as a refuge for women and effeminate men in conservative, Muslim-dominated Sudan.〔 In Ethiopia, zār also refers to malevolent demons.〔Turner, John W. Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity: Faith and Practices. ''(A Country Study: Ethiopia )''. Thomas P. Ofcansky and LaVerle Berry, eds. Washington: Library of Congress Federal Research Division, 1991.〕 Many Ethiopian Christians〔 and Muslims〔Beckwith, Carol, Angela Fisher, and Graham Hancock. ''African Ark''. New York: Henry N. Abrams, Inc., 1990.〕 believe in these spirits. Among both groups, mental illness is often attributed to zār possession.〔Kemp, Charles. "(Ethiopians & Eritreans. )" ''Refugee Health – Immigrant Health''. Waco, TX: Baylor University.〕 In Ethiopia, zār possession is more common among women, while among immigrants in the West, men are more commonly afflicted.〔 At the same time, many Ethiopians believe in benevolent, protective spirits, or ''abdar''.〔 While this belief in abdar and zār fits the traditional dualism of good and evil, it is also deeply rooted in superstition.〔Finneran, Niall. "(Ethiopian Evil Eye Belief and the Magical Symbolism of Iron Working. )" ''Folklore'', Vol. 114, 2003.〕 ==Varieties of Zār cults in Sudan== Among extant varieties of Zār cults are "''zār Sawāknī'' (the ''zār'' from the area of Sawākin (that is, ''zār Sawāknī''"〔Makris 2000, p. 141〕 )) and ''zār Nyamānyam'' (the ''zār'' of the Azande)":〔Makris 2000, p. 12〕 "the Nyam-Nyam have ''zār nugāra'', with Babīnga and Nakūrma." "Babīnga and Nakūrma are recognized as Azande ancestral spirits." Nugāra (big drum) = "''nuqara'' ... of the Dega tribe ... was originally from Wau."〔Makris 2000, p. 64〕 (Wau is in Equatoria province of Sudan.) "Besides the nugāra of the Azande, other zār cults mentioned were those of the Fartīt (peoples include "the Karra, Gula, Feroge, and Surro"〔Makris p. 222, n. 5:15〕 ), the Shilluk, and the Dinka peoples and the ''dinia'' Nuba cult”.〔Makris 2000, pp. 64-65〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Zār」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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