CAIRO, Egypt — The drums start slowly--tum dum ta tuum tum. Women toss their heads and sway to the beat. One repeatedly slaps her face. Another thumps her chest. A crippled man lying on the floor ...

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LEADER OF 'MAZAHER ENSEMBLE' ZAR TROUPE, UM SAMEH, SAYING: "I stand (in front of the audience) and sing randomly, and the people accept me and are very happy with me, even those ...

Why is Christian Science in our name? Our name is about honesty. The Monitor is owned by The Christian Science Church, and we’ve always been transparent about that. The Church publishes the Monitor ...

The music and dance ritual known as “zar”, with centuries-old roots in Ethiopia and Sudan, is traditionally performed to ward off evil spirits. Traditionally, the zar ritual -- found in variations ...

CAIRO — A stage, lights, a mesmerised audience: It looks like an Egyptian folkloric concert but Umm Sameh is singing to heal the sick by driving out the demons that possess them. The music and dance ...

Traditionally, the zar ritual -- found in variations across parts of North Africa and the Middle East -- would last several days and include animal sacrifices — Khaled DESOUKI A stage, lights, a ...

It looks like a concert of Egyptian folk music — a stage, lights and a mesmerized audience — but Umm Sameh is singing to heal the sick by driving out the demons that possess them. The music and dance ...

A stage, lights, a mesmerised audience: it looks like an Egyptian folkloric concert but Umm Sameh is singing to heal the sick by driving out the demons that possess them. The music and dance ritual ...