This is one of the modern Ethiopian paintings depicting scenes from local history that decorate the walls of the Remhai Hotel, where we stayed while in Axum.

I found an interesting and informative explanation of this scene on the Web site "Genygeny’s Weblog," at genygeny.wordpress.com/

According to that site, the ruler of "Ethiopia during this time was Gebre Meskel (525-539 A.D) the son of the renowned Emperor Kaleb."

"The fact that during his reign Ethiopia produced her greatest musician and poet, Saint Yared, who as the creator of Zema (music) and poetry, surpassed all, pleased the Emperor so much that he was content to conduct the matters of state and leave to Yared the affairs of the Church."

"Together they instituted the celebration of Hosana (Palm Sunday) in the city of Aksum. This custom which they established is still practiced in churches throughout Ethiopia. Ethiopia by priests and choirs of debteras."

"These hymns are accompanied by various musical instruments created by Yared giving the performance more fullness. The singers chant in a choir in harmony with the melody, slowly moving their prayer sticks back and forth or up and down in an orchestrated movement known as tirkeza. The beating of the drums and the rattling of the sistra also join in to make the music more melodious."

For more information about the remarkable life of the enormously gifted and highly learned St. Yared, go to Genygeny’s Weblog at genygeny.wordpress.com/

This charming painting contains an interesting anachronism. The scene it depicts occurred in the sixth century AD, but it is shown as taking place in front of the 20th century New Church of St. Mary of Zion. This observation is in no way intended as a criticism. To the contrary, I am intrigued by the artist's fluid use of time in creating his narrative.