Sona Yazova | |
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Born | 1943 (age 80–81) |
Occupation | Short story writer |
Nationality | Turkmenistani |
Genre | Poetry |
Sona Yazova (sometimes Iazova) (born 1943) [1] is a poet from Turkmenistan. In 2010 she was named a People's Writer of Turkmenistan by president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow as part of the celebrations marking the 19th anniversary of Turkmenistan's independence. [2] She has also been employed by the national television network. In 2008 she was appointed a member of the committee which metes out the Makhtumkuli International Prize. [3] She has been active in literary circles since the late Soviet era, when she was among those invited to present work in poetry readings during perestroika, [4] and has written short fiction in addition to poetry. [5] She was described as a supporter of the regime of Saparmurat Niyazov while he was alive, [6] and at least one of her short stories centers upon an incident in the life of his mother, Gurbansoltan Eje, whose story was central to his personality cult. [5] Patriotism and love of country are among the themes touched upon in her verse. [7]