Zar
Zar spirits are a class of supernatural beings in Eritrean folk belief, particularly among Tigrinya-speaking communities and the broader Horn of Africa region. Unlike the purely malevolent Buda, Zar spirits are ambivalent—they can cause illness and misfortune when angered but may also become protective allies when properly honored through ritual. The Zar possession cult is an important traditional healing system in Eritrea, involving drumming, dancing, and trance ceremonies designed to appease spirits possessing individuals. A person 'ridden' by a Zar spirit may experience physical or mental i