Fann at Tanbura

Fann aṭ-Ṭanbūra (Arabic: فن الطنبورة‎‎) is a traditional music and dance genre in the Arab states of the Persian Gulf, especially Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman. Musically, the tanbūra instrument plays a central role, along with several drums and the manjur—an instrument made of several goat hooves wrapped around the waist of the performer.

Men and women both participate in the singing and dance. Fann at-tanbura is closely associated with the Zār spiritual ritual, and it was originally used in healing practices. Participants would occasionally fall into a trance. In modern times though it is more often a musical performance.