Azmari


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 or krar. Azmari often perform in drinking establishments called tejbeit, which specialize in the serving of tej. The Azamri introduced the popular Tizita ballad form.