Azmari

[1] 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).

Amharas tend to call all musicians Azmari simply because there's no other word in the language denoting a person who plays a musical instrument.

[6] Between 1841-1843, the English traveller Major William Cornwallis Harris captured the prevailing political atmosphere and attitudes of Sahle Selassie's court towards his enemies in a song of praise played by one of his female chorist (azmari).

The sabre feels the royal grasp, And Pagans writhe in death's cold clasp; The Galla taste the captive fare, And dread the vengeance which they dare.

Azmaris have continued perform in various settings ranging from wedding ceremonies, to hotels, and in drinking establishments called tejbeit, which specialise in the serving of tej (mead).