Mazaher (EG)

Mazaher perpetuates age-old zār rituals and offers an immersive and cathartic concert experience.

Mazher is a group of musicians and singers based in Cairo who have kept alive Egypt's zār traditions since the late 90s. Zār is ritual music, which is based on singing, dancing and polyrhythmic drumming, and aims to create harmony between participants; zār is about loosening the social bonds that bind one. In addition, a characteristic of zār is that the women lead the way in the ritual. Among the musicians of Mazaher are Um Sameh, Um Hassan and Nour El Sabah, who are some of the last in Egypt to practice zār. So don't let the chance to experience this musical ritual pass you by!

The music Mazher presents is inspired by three distinct, Egyptian zār styles. In addition, the sacred, six-stringed instrument tamboura and the percussion-instrument mangour constitute important for the zār ritual. Over the years Mazahs have played in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, and wherever they come, they attract audiences with the healing and conciliatory effect of zār music. Mazaher has crossed ALICE before, and we are so excited to once again immerse ourselves in this amazing musical tradition.