ORAIB
(797–890)> LUTENIST · SONGSTRESS
ORAIB (Uraib, Arib) Arabian lutenist and songstress of Baghdad. 797; July or August, 890. She was an illegitimate daughter of Garaf ibn Yahya al-Barmaki. The Barmak family were of Persian origin, held high administrative positions and were patrons of the arts, particularly music. After the death of her mother and the execution of her father when she was about six, Oraib was sold several times (or stolen, in another version) until she came into the hands of Abdallah Ibn Ismail al-Marakibi…