Azmari

Azmari playing masenqo in a tejbeit, Lalibela, northern Ethiopia

An azmari is an Ethiopian singer-musician, comparable to the European bard or the West African griot. Azmari, who may be either male or female, are skilled at singing extemporized verses, accompanying themselves on either a masenqo (one-stringed fiddle) or krar (lyre). Azmari often perform in drinking establishments called tejbeit, which specialize in the serving of tej (honey mead).

See also

• Ethiopian music