Mazaher Ensemble (Zar)

Zar is one of the few musical forms in which women take a leading role.
Its artistic importance lies in the fact that it has lived largely isolated from processes of influence and exchange, due to social and state marginalization, thus preserving its original structure, which may date back to ancient Egyptian times.

Zar extends across the Arabian Peninsula, Yemen, the Gulf region, Iraq, and Iran.
In Egypt, Zar is divided into three types: the Masri (Upper Egyptian) Zar, Abu El Gheit Zar, and the Sudanese (African) Zar.