In Egypt, Sudan, and Horn of Africa, zar ceremonies use drumming, dance, and incense to induce trance for women possessed by spirits, achieving healing through negotiation. It persists as women's therapeutic space. It mattered amid modernization and gender dynamics.

Zar spirit possession rituals in North Africa have deeply influenced oral poetry traditions, shaping narratives that address cultural memory and empowerment. This rich oral heritage has resonated with diaspora writers, who explore themes of identity and resistance through the lens of possession and cultural expression.