Sona Akhundova-Garayeva

• Name — Sona Akhundova-Garayeva • Native Name — Sona Iskander gizi Akhundova-Garayeva • Born — 16 October 1898 • Birthplace — Baku, Azerbaijan • Died — 19 October 1971 • Occupation — Poet • Notable Works — "Vatan" • Spouse — Abulfaz Garayev • Children — Gara Garayev, Mursal Garayev

Sona Iskander gizi Akhundova was born on 16 October 1898 in Baku. Her father was Iskander Mirza Abdulhuseyn bey oglu Akhundov, a graduate of the University of Krakow-Jagiellonian, and her mother was Zuleykha Bayramalibeyova, one of the educated and enlightened women of her time. At the age of 13 Akhundova's parents sent her to a girls’ school under the Baku Municipality. After graduating from this school, she continued her education at the Baku branch of St. Nina School. Later Akhundova studied piano music. Akhundova showed interest in poetry when she was still in school. With the help of Shafiqa Khanum, she found and read poems of Mirza Alakbar Sabir and was also aware of satirical poems, articles, and caricatures published in the magazine "Molla Nasreddin". Sona Akhundova-Garayeva died on 19 October 1971.

One of the most famous of Akhundova's poems “Vatan” was included in the book "Ashugs and Poets of Azerbaijan" published in 1974. Reviews about Sona Khanum's poems were published in the beginning of the last century in "Sada", "Ishik", "Kaspi", "Zaqafqazskaya rech" and other newspapers. Akhundova cooperated with the first women's newspaper Ishig and regularly published her poems there.

Akhundova married Abulfaz Garayev, a prominent doctor and honored scientist, and they had two sons – Gara and Mursal Garayevs. Gara Garayev became a world-known composer, while Mursal Garayev – a prominent doctor.