Abstract:
Introduction: Zar possession is not explored well in Ethiopian. So, this research attempts to
explore the lived experience of the people with Zar possession in south Wollo zone which
included the meaning, perceived manifestations, causal attribution and their preferred
intervention have been addressed. Methods: to explore the lived experience of Zar as a
phenomenon, the researcher applied hermeneutic phenomenological design of qualitative
approach. Semi-structured interview was employed to collect data from nine participants; the
mediums, bale-Zar and close families of the mediums, to analyze the data that transcribed from
the participant response, thematic analysis were used. Result: after familiarizing transcribed text,
four main themes- meaning of the phenomenon, its manifestations, causal attributions and
preferred interventions were identified. Seven sub themes–alternative terminologies of the
phenomenon, special naming of their types, manifestation during trance state & in normal
circumstance, and the cause attributed for the phenomenon. To illustrate the themes and sub
themes further, fifteen other related themes were identified. Ten of this other related themes are
found under Zar manifestations and the rest three of them are also found under preferred
intervention and the two are found under causal attribution. Conclusion: finally, the people
considered their experience of Zaras both protective and evil spirits that is generalized to call
jinn or jinnee and they had been using alternative terminologies and special naming also to
classify the spirits. Contrasting with the criteria of dissociative identity disorder, Zar possession
has some sort of variation in manifestation, causal attribution and intervention strategies i.e.
prevention, treatment and follow up; but still DSM-5 intertwined and report the phenomenon
with it.
