Azmari – Fest of Voices

Azmari, who play the one-stringed fiddle called masenqo, are hereditary musical professionals who have made music their livelihood in the communities of the Ethiopian highlands since ancient times. Azmari simultaneously serve as a resistance against the rulers and as representative voices of the people for social and political satire and debate through songs. The performances by Azmari are characterized by the improvisation of poetry, not only by the singer but by the audience, who improvise and throw their own poems at the singer. Azmari’s songs serve as a mirror, reflecting the social situation and feelings of the locals. This film follows the performance activities of Solomon Ayanaw, an Azmari working in Addis Ababa, and examines issues surrounding the transformation, authenticity, and inheritance of Azmari culture through conversations between the anthropologist/filmmaker Itsushi Kawase, and Solomon, his relatives, and the audience.