Zayi People of Lake Ziway: One of the Lost Tribes of Amhara
The Zay people are a Semitic people living on the islands of Lake Ziway, south of Addis Ababa, and engage mainly in fishing. Because of centuries of isolation from their parent Amharic/Ge’ez-speaking population - caused by wars and political upheavals at different times - this community developed a distinct culture and identity, while still preserving its Orthodox Christianity and core Amhara traditions.
Despite centuries of geographic isolation and distance, the Zay people remain, in practice, closely related to their Amhara cousins in Tana, Haiq and Haiq Estifanos, and Ambassel - መካነ ነግሥታት. Their history reflects both cultural continuity and the unique character shaped by life on the islands of Lake Ziway.