Horus has better detail than other disinformants and below is unbiased info:
The Zay (or Zaye) people are historically and linguistically classified as part of the Gurage people. However, as a Semitic-speaking group native to the islands of Lake Zway, they have deeply intertwined religious and cultural ties to the Amhara. [1, 2, 3, 4]
The Zay are categorized within the broader Ethiopian Semitic family in several specific ways: [1]
* Linguistic Classification: The Zay language (often classified as part of the East Gurage subgroup) is closely related to other Gurage languages like Silte, Wolane, and Harari.
* Historical Origins: Many Zay people trace their ancestry to migrations from the mountainous, Semitic-speaking northern highlands of Ethiopia (such as Tigray) and they share the ancestral blending typical of the greater Gurage.
* Amhara Cultural Influence: Despite their Gurage linguistic roots, the Zay have an incredibly strong Ethiopian Orthodox Christian tradition. Historically, Amhara priests were brought to serve the island monasteries, heavily influencing their religious practices and making Amharic their primary language for religious activities.