ማኅሌተ ጽጌ ’Mahlete Tsge’ at Se-alite Mehret Kidst Maryam - No. 2

’Zema or the chant tradition of Ethiopia, particularly the chants of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, is attributed to St. Yared, a composer and a choreographer who lived in Aksum in the 6th century AD. He is credited for inventing the zema of the Church; the chant that has been in use continuously for the last almost 1500 years. It is indeed a classical tradition both musically and culturally. St Yared’s chants are characterized as subtle, spiritually uplifting, and euphonic. St Yared’s composition draws its fame both in its endurance and institutionalization of a tradition to mark the rhythm of life, the life of the faithful.’ Quoted from the article ’St. Yared – the great Ethiopian composer’ by Ayele Bekerie, Tadias Magazine