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On April 10, 2026, a book exhibition titled “Poet-Composer Khanim Ismayilgizi” was presented to users at the National Library on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Khanim Ismayilgizi, who has contributed to our musical culture through both her poetry and composed songs.

The exhibition features her works, sheet music collections, books she has translated and edited, as well as literature about her life and creative activity, and materials published in periodicals.

Khanim Ismayil gizi Qarayeva (Khanim Ismayilgizi) was born on April 10, 1956, in Baku city. In 1979, she graduated from the Faculty of Philology of Azerbaijan State University (now Baku State University).

She began her professional career in 1972 at the “Ganjlik” Publishing House. From 1987 to 1989, she worked as head of department at the publishing house of ASU; from 1989 to 1995, she served as head of department and deputy chairman at the Azerbaijan Center for Literary Translation and Literary Relations; and from 1995 to 1998, she worked as deputy director and director at the “Bayati” Order Literature Center of the “Bilik” Enlightenment Society. In 2014–2016, she headed the Publishing Department at the Translation Center under the Cabinet of Ministers and later led the Publishing Department of the Azerbaijan State Translation Center.

Khanim Ismayilgizi began her literary activity at a young age. Her first poem was published in 1991 in the newspaper “Yol.” She has worked in poetry, journalism, and translation, and her works have been well received by readers.

Her first publicistic book, “Those Who Pass From This World,” was published in 1996. Her philosophical-publicistic work “The Eye of the Soul Also Exists” reflects the inner world of visually impaired people. She is also the author of poetry collections such as “Once Me, and Then Myself,” “White and Black,” “Rain of Prayer,” “I Gave You to the Sky,” “A Season Without a Name,” “My Place, Do Not Tell Me,” and “Everything Starts with Do.” Her poems have been translated into Russian, Belarusian, Uzbek, Persian, Polish, Turkish, and Dutch, and published in various countries and anthologies.

She has translated Vasili Shukshin’s short story collection “Snake Venom” and Japanese fairy tales “Issunboshi.”

The first song written by composer Faiq Sudjaddinov to her lyrics, “Where Have You Stayed,” became her poetic calling card.

Her first composition as a composer was the song “Let’s Protect Our Love,” written in 1993. Her music for Tamara Veliyeva’s play “My White Dove” is considered her first large-scale work. In total, she is the author of more than 400 songs. She has also composed music albums such as “The World is Dry,” “Forget Me,” “Eyes,” “Castle of Sorrow,” “Native Land,” and “My White Dove.”