Azza al-Mayla (; ) (7th-century - d. 705) was a Medinan Qiyan-courtesan musician, composer, singer, poet and teacher. She was a '' mawla'' of the Ansar tribe, which mean she was a freedwoman-client who converted to Islam, which was the usual background for free professional musical artists in the Caliphate. She and her colleague Jamila (d. 720) was one of only two free female musicians known to have managed their own ''

majlis ( ar, المجلس, pl. ') is an Arabic term meaning "sitting room", used to describe various types of special gatherings among common interest groups of administrative, social or religious nature in countries with linguistic or cultural conne ...

'', which was a form of entertainment sessions or salon which was at this time still acceptable for women and men to attend together, as Arabian upper-class women was not yet fully subjected to

gender segregation Sex segregation, sex separation, gender segregation or gender separation is the physical, legal, or cultural separation of people according to their biological sex. Sex segregation can refer simply to the physical and spatial separation by sex w ...

. The majlis played a big role in the lively musical life of Medina, in which the musicians performed and attracted patrons and students. Azza al-Mayla performed in the presence of both women and men, and described by men who admired: 'Azza al-Mayla's beauty, her supple waist and graceful walk, because of which she was called al-Maylii'. As an artist, she was described as a musician of "great innate musical talent, enhanced by a superb voice and impressive skill in playing musical instruments". She was a student in Arabian songs of the female singers Ra'iqa, Sirin and Zerneb, and a student in Persian airs of

Sa'ib Khathir Sa'ib Khathir (died 683) was an influential Persian musician in the early days of the Umayyad Caliphate (661–750). A freedman (''mawla''), Sa'ib was responsible for introducing music to Medina. He was killed during the Battle of al-Harra The B ...

and Nashit, who were known as Persian music performers. She combined old and new music in her art and was referred to as the 'queen of singers'.Shiloah, Arnnon. Music in the world of Islam: a socio-cultural study I. Title 306.4840917671

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Azza al-Mayla 7th-century musicians 8th-century women musicians 8th-century musicians Arabian slaves and freedmen Medieval singers Qiyan 705 deaths Women poets from the Umayyad Caliphate Slaves from the Umayyad Caliphate People from Medina Medieval Arabic singers