Maýa Gulyýewa

Maýa (Mamajan) Gulyýewa was born in the village of Bezmein near Ashgabat and became one of the first stars of the Turkmen opera stage.

For many years the leading soprano of the Ashgabat opera, she sang principal roles in Turkmen and world operas and also acted in films.

She was named People's Artist of the USSR in 1955 and Hero of Turkmenistan in 2008, and died in Ashgabat in 2018 aged 97.