Ziryab
Abu l-Hasan 'Ali Ibn Nafi', better known as Ziryab, Zeryab, or Zaryab (c. 789–c. 857) (Arabic: أبو الحسن علي ابن نافع, زریاب), was a singer, oud and lute player, composer, poet, and teacher who lived and worked in Iraq, Northern Africa and Andalusia during the medieval Islamic period. He was also a polymath, with knowledge in astronomy, geography, meteorology, botanics, cosmetics, culinary art and fashion. His nickname "Ziryab", comes from the Persian word for jay-bird زرياب, pronounced "Zaryāb". He was also known as Mirlo ('blackbird') in Spanish. He was active at the Umayyad court of Córdoba in Islamic Iberia. He first achieved fame at the Abbasid court in Baghdad, his birthplace, as a performer and student of the musician and composer Ibrahim al-Mawsili.
Ziryab | |
|---|---|
| "زرياب" أبو الحسن علي بن نافع | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Abu l-Hasan 'Ali Ibn Nafi c. 789 In the area of modern day Iraq, possibly Baghdad, Abbasid Caliphate |
| Died | c. 27 January 857 (aged 67–68) Córdoba, Emirate of Córdoba |
| Occupation | linguist, geographer, poet, chemist, musician, singer astronomer, gastronomist, etiquettecouncillor, stylist |
Ziryab was a gifted pupil of Ibrahim al-Mawsili in Baghdad, where Ziryab got his beginner lessons. However, he left Baghdad during the reign of the Abbasid caliph al-Ma'mun and moved to Córdoba, where he was accepted as a court musician in the court of Abd ar-Rahman II of the Umayyad Dynasty.