Our People > Duisenali Alimakyn

Duisenali Alimakyn is a Kazakh journalist, translator, and researcher covering literature, culture, and science. His research, including at the George Washington University, has a strong focus on Western narratives about Central Asia over the centuries.

Articles

Özgecan Kesici-Ayoubi

Özgecan Kesici-Ayoubi on How the Alash Movement Is Studied in the West

Özgecan Kesici-Ayoubi is a poet and academic whose work bridges literature and Kazakh intellectual history. Though born and raised in Europe, her writing and scholarship show a deep affinity with the Kazakh people. Her early poetry earned attention and acclaim, and during her university studies she began researching the Alash Movement, work that culminated in a PhD completed in Ireland. We recently spoke with her in a short but insightful interview. TCA: Your academic research focuses on the Alash Party. How did you come to choose this topic while studying in a Western country? Özgecan: Growing up as a Kazakh in Germany, I was always interested in the formation of my identity and cultural heritage. I studied Political Science at both undergraduate and master’s level, and for my master’s thesis, I explored the process of Kazakh nation-building after independence. I then wanted to delve deeper into the foundations of the modern Kazakh nation, which I believe were significantly shaped by the Alash movement in the early 20th century. In Sociology, there's a major subfield focused on the historical sociology of nations and nationhood, which I used as a framework to study the Alash movement. TCA: In developed countries, academic standards are typically very high. What kind of support did your supervisor provide? Özgecan: My supervisor, Professor Siniša Malešević, is a Full Professor of Comparative Historical Sociology at University College Dublin. He was extremely supportive of my research. His expertise in historical sociology and theories of nationalism gave me the academic guidance I needed. Moreover, Ireland’s own colonial past means that its universities have research profiles that aligned well with my work on the Alash movement. TCA: Conducting research on the Alash movement from abroad must have presented challenges. How did you overcome them? Özgecan: It’s important to note that my research was sociological, not purely historical. I wasn’t aiming to discover new archival materials but rather to position the Alash movement within the broader sociological field of nations and nationalism and explore its theoretical implications. That said, I did require primary sources, which I accessed during fieldwork. I connected with local Kazakh scholars who helped me find the necessary materials and books, and I’m very grateful for their support. TCA: Are Western scholars aware of the Alash intellectuals' civic ideals and national identity struggles? Has the topic been studied where you lived? Özgecan: In Ireland, where I was based, the topic hadn’t been studied. However, the Alash movement has been examined by a number of Western scholars. When I began my PhD, several articles and dissertations had already been written in English, many by Kazakh scholars themselves. TCA: You previously mentioned you're working on a book. Can you tell us more about it? Özgecan: Since completing my PhD, I’ve been writing a novel based on my grandparents’ migration from the Altay region in China during the 1930s to Turkey and later the West. The novel is written from a female perspective. TCA: I've read your poems. What inspired your shift...

10 months ago

Science

Meet Nurxat Nuraje, One of Kazakhstan’s Most Impressive Scientists

Nurxat Nuraje is a Kazakh scientist who is now well known in the global scientific community. He has spent more than two decades studying and conducting research in the United States. Drawn to science from an early age, he earned his PhD in chemistry from the City University of New York in 2008, successfully launching his research career. His main field of research is nanotechnology and its applications. At a time when nanoscience was still emerging, his bold approach to the subject quickly gained recognition. His first major publication was in the Journal of the American Chemical Society – one of the world’s leading chemistry journals. The paper introduced innovative ideas about nanocircuit fabrication, methods and challenges in their development, computational power, and potential applications. This paper was considered a major contribution to the field at the time. Soon after, he joined the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), one of the world’s foremost technology universities, as a postdoctoral researcher. There, he succeeded in finding ways to increase computer storage capacity, which is a crucial question for modern computing. His research on the development and application of specific nanoparticles was published in Advanced Materials, once again establishing his name in global science. His work was later awarded a silver medal at the International Materials Research Society conference in San Francisco. “Science doesn’t deliver results overnight. It evolves gradually,” says Nuraje. “The true mission of a scientist is to reshape the world’s thinking through discovery. In the future, we must move from oil to hydrogen energy. That is the energy of tomorrow.” Since 2013, Nuraje has worked as a research scientist at MIT. He is also credited with developing conductive polymer nanoparticles, which are now widely used. Together with his students, he continues to design and create practical, everyday-use technologies. In 2015 he received the Joseph Award for his outstanding contribution to nanotechnology. He became the first Kazakh scientist to win this American honor. Why did MIT invite him to join their team? The answer lies in his PhD dissertation, which was recognized by experts as one of the best in the field. Harvard University, the University of California, and MIT each offered him postdoctoral positions. One of Nuraje's remarkable achievements was the development of anti-fogging materials – the kind used on smartphone screens today. Working with MIT professor Angela Belcher, he co-created a new type of photocatalytic material through genetic engineering of the M13 virus. This groundbreaking work was published in Advanced Materials in 2012 and resulted in five international patents. This is a true testament to the Kazakh proverb: “Knowledge conquers all.” In 2015, he joined Texas Tech University as a professor of chemical engineering, where he established his own research laboratory, The Nurxat Nuraje Lab. There, his team developed solar-powered water-splitting technology to produce hydrogen. His breakthroughs in conductive polymers earned him the American Chemical Society’s Petroleum Research Award in 2016. In the following years, he was named “Most Distinguished Scientist” at Texas Tech University, and in 2018, the...

11 months ago

Literature

TCA Interview: Author Judith Lindbergh on Her Novel “Akmaral”, Set on the Kazakh Steppe

In recent years, many international writers have written books about Kazakhstan. One of these is the American author Judith Lindbergh, whose latest historical novel, Akmaral, is set on the Kazakh steppe. TCA: The story of Akmaral is related to Central Asia, and particularly, Kazakhstan... JL: Absolutely correct. Akmaral is about a nomadic woman warrior on the Central Asian steppes in the 5th century BCE. It’s based on archaeology that many of your readers are likely familiar with: the Siberian Ice Maiden discovered in Tuva and the Issyk Golden Warrior of Kazakhstan. These two burials were just the beginning of my research, which also included the writings of the Greek historian Herodotus about the Amazon warrior women who fought in the Trojan War. I delved deeply into the history, landscape, and cultures of Central Asia, both ancient and modern. In writing my novel, I worked hard to understand how people lived, and still live, on the steppes: their traditional nomadic ways of herding and hunting, and especially how this ancient, often-forgotten culture fits into the broader story of human civilization. [caption id="attachment_38735" align="aligncenter" width="349"] Judith Lindbergh[/caption] TCA: How did the idea to write such a novel come about? JL: It all started with a documentary about the Siberian Ice Maiden. I love ancient history and archaeology, especially when they reveal truths about women’s lives. The Ice Maiden burial was fascinating. Her body was so well preserved that I could almost imagine her standing before me. I wanted to understand how she might have lived, and to uncover the mystery of why she was buried in such an isolated place. As I continued my research, I realized that she was not the only important female burial from that era in Central Asia. There were, in fact, countless others. Many women who had died of war wounds were buried with weapons. I began combining these burials in my imagination to create my main character, Akmaral, which I learned means “White Deer.” The name felt connected to the Siberian Ice Maiden’s famous tattoo, which became an important spiritual symbol in my novel. I used extensive research to try to accurately represent what life might have been like for these ancient women. In historical fiction, as in history itself, women rarely play significant roles in public life. Yet these artifacts and burials show us that many nomadic women once held important military and spiritual positions. There are almost no works written in English about nomadic peoples, including the real life and history of the Kazakhs. In fact, nomads were people who lived freely and truly in their time. And now we are not able to glorify their values, their way of life. What do you think about this? You’re right that there’s very little written in the West about the Sarmatians, or really much about Central Asia at all. I wanted to bring my fascination with this vital, “forgotten” part of history to new readers. In many ways, it can be hard for modern...

12 months ago

Literature

Kazakhstan Highlights Its Literary Heritage at the 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair

From October 15 to 19, Kazakhstan took part in the 2025 Frankfurter Buchmesse in Germany – one of the world’s most prominent and influential international book fairs. At its national stand, the country presented a diverse selection of new publications from leading Kazakh publishers to a global readership. Celebrating its 77th edition, this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair featured more than 30 delegates from Kazakhstan, from major publishing houses such as Mektep, Almatykitap, Atamura, ARMAN-PV, Steppe & World Publishing, Evero, Kazformoms, and AmalBooks. [caption id="attachment_38141" align="aligncenter" width="351"] @TCA[/caption] The national pavilion became an important hub for expanding international publishing partnerships. Approximately 350 Kazakh titles were showcased, spanning a wide range of genres from literary fiction and scholarly works to educational and children’s books. Book Presentations and Highlights Several notable book launches took place during the fair. Of particular interest was the multilingual edition Abai’s “Words of Wisdom: Legacy for Generations”, translated into seven languages and presented with the participation of German writer Anja Tuckermann. Another major highlight was a creative presentation of Mirzhakyp Dulatov’s timeless novel “Unfortunate Jamal”, regarded as one of the classics of Kazakh literature. [caption id="attachment_38142" align="aligncenter" width="224"] @TCA[/caption] The Consul General of Kazakhstan in Frankfurt am Main, Tauboldy Umbetbayev, visited the national pavilion to show support for the Kazakh delegation and to emphasize literature’s vital role in promoting cultural diplomacy. Throughout the fair, publishers from Canada, China, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Denmark, Germany, Singapore, and several other countries met with Kazakh representatives to discuss potential collaborations.

12 months ago

History

Rediscovering Mustafa Shokay: A Fragment of Kazakh History in an American Bookstore

While studying in the United States, I have spent my free hours chasing traces of home — fragments of Kazakh history scattered across libraries, archives, and private collections. Much of our past lies far from the steppe, carried off by the tides of empire and exile. My purpose has been simple: to return those fragments, in words and images, to our people. One afternoon in Washington, D.C., I wandered into an old bookstore. The two floors seemed to contain the intellectual wealth of the world — every shelf whispering stories of vanished nations and stubborn identities. I made straight for the section on Central Asia, where the spines of a few rare volumes caught my eye. As I turned the pages of one yellowed book, something stopped me cold: a photograph of Mustafa Shokay, the Kazakh statesman and intellectual who devoted his life to the cause of Turkestan’s autonomy. [caption id="attachment_37511" align="aligncenter" width="596"] Mustafa Shokay in his student days[/caption] A Visionary in Exile Born in 1890 in what is now southern Kazakhstan, Mustafa Shokay emerged as one of the most eloquent voices for Central Asian self-determination during the revolutionary upheavals of 1917. When the Russian Empire collapsed, he helped lead the short-lived Kokand (Turkestan) Autonomy, which sought to build a government based on equality and Muslim representation. Within weeks, the Bolsheviks crushed the movement. Forced into exile, Shokay continued his work from abroad — first in Turkey, then in France — editing journals and writing tirelessly about the rights and dignity of Turkic peoples. His story embodies the tragedy of a generation of intellectuals who dreamed of independence decades before it arrived. During World War II, Shokay’s moral integrity was tested once again. Arrested by Nazi forces after the invasion of France, he was asked to lead the “Turkestan Legion” — a military formation of Soviet prisoners of war. Shokay refused, condemning the brutal treatment of the prisoners and rejecting any collaboration with the Nazi regime. He died in captivity in 1941, but his name endures as a symbol of conscience and courage in Kazakhstan. Richard Pipes and the Rediscovery of Forgotten Nations The photograph I found was printed in The Formation of the Soviet Union: Communism and Nationalism, 1917–1923, a classic study by Richard Pipes, the Harvard historian who helped introduce Western audiences to the complexity of the early Soviet era. Pipes’s research explored how the Bolsheviks built a multiethnic empire from the ruins of tsarist Russia, often manipulating national aspirations for political ends. Crucially, he paid special attention to the Muslim and Turkic regions — to the Caucasus, the Volga, and Central Asia — and recognized that their quest for self-determination represented the “Achilles’ heel” of the Soviet system. His work anticipated the eventual collapse of the USSR and the independence of states like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan. In one recollection, Pipes described visiting Almaty in the 1950s and watching a May Day parade. As Kazakhs marched silently past portraits of Stalin, he turned to a Russian colleague...

1 year ago

Kazakh Culture

How a Kazakh Writer`s Book About American Couch Grass Was Written

During his lifetime, Gabit Musirepov was celebrated as a people’s writer, translator, dramatist, critic, academician, Hero of Socialist Labor, and statesman. Known in Kazakhstan as the “Master of Words,” he became a figure of national pride, and his works continue to be widely read today. What is less known, however, is the story of his very first book. Long before he became famous for his fiction, Musirepov published a small agricultural manual titled Amirkan Bidayygy (American Couch Grass). Released in 1928 by the “Kazakhstan State” publishing house in Kyzylorda with a circulation of 5,000, the booklet sought to answer a pressing question: how could Kazakh farmers improve their fields and livestock fodder? [caption id="attachment_36744" align="aligncenter" width="308"] First page of book Amirkan Bidayygy (American Couch Grass)[/caption] The introduction explained the need for such a work. At the time, Kazakh peasants planted oats, millet, wheat, and barley, but often without proper techniques. Fodder crops were largely unknown, except in limited areas along the Syr Darya River. Previous manuals existed, but they were poorly translated from Russian or intended for experienced Russian farmers, making them inaccessible to Kazakhs. Musirepov’s book, written in plain language and tailored to local conditions, filled that gap. This was Musirepov’s first published book. He wrote it in early 1927, the same year his first prose work, In the Grip of the Sea, appeared later in the autumn. Fellow writer Sabit Mukanov recalled: “After graduating from the Orenburg Workers’ Faculty in 1926, Gabit entered the Agricultural Academy in Omsk. In early 1927, he sent me his booklet Amirkan Bidayygy for publication. We printed it. I still keep his letter where he wrote, ‘The money from this book kept my family fed for half the winter.’” The publisher acknowledged in the foreword that the young author might have overlooked some scientific details, but praised the work as “one of the best guides for improving the lives of Kazakh peasants,” insisting that every farmer should read it. [caption id="attachment_36745" align="aligncenter" width="436"] Musirepov`s introduction[/caption] In his own introduction, Musirepov explained, “I had two goals. First, to show why farming remained unproductive by pointing out poor land conditions. Second, to offer ways of overcoming these problems and raising productivity. I believe I achieved both.” This statement reflects the sincerity and social purpose that would later define his literary career: whatever he wrote, it was always with the hope of benefiting his people. Musirepov also asked a practical question: What kind of grass does the Kazakh land need? His answer was clear - crops that could withstand severe winters, scorching summers, and drought, while producing abundant, nutritious fodder and enriching the soil. After considering various options, he concluded that yellow alfalfa and American couch grass were the most suitable. Of the two, he argued, couch grass was best suited to Kazakhstan’s harsh climate.

1 year ago

Diplomacy

Shared Values, Shared Voices: An Interview With Spain’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan

In recent years, cultural cooperation between Spain and Kazakhstan has gained new momentum. Although the two countries are separated by a vast geographical distance, their cultural ties are growing closer through shared values. The Embassy of Spain in Kazakhstan has implemented a number of major projects in this regard. TCA spoke with the Ambassador of Spain to Kazakhstan, Luis Martínez Montes. TCA: It’s been several months since you became the Ambassador to Kazakhstan. What aspects of our culture do you enjoy? LMM: In fact, this is my second diplomatic posting to Kazakhstan. The first was from 1999 to 2002, when Spain opened its embassy in Almaty before moving to Astana. Twenty-five years later, I’ve returned as Ambassador to a country I consider my second home. There are so many things I love about Kazakhstan, including its nature and its gastronomy, that it’s hard to choose. But if I had to pick one, it would be the people, especially the younger generations. I spend much of my time visiting schools and universities, where I see a tremendous energy and thirst for knowledge among Kazakh students. I organize weekly lectures, debate clubs, and informal lunches at my residence with students and Kazakh intellectuals. Their conversations enrich me and help me better understand the direction this country is taking. TCA: You once mentioned that you visited the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi. What impression did it leave on you? LMM: I visited Turkistan in 1999, and I have a memorable anecdote from that trip. While visiting the mausoleum, the local guide found out I was from Spain and enthusiastically mentioned Ibn Arabi, the great Sufi poet from Al-Andalus [the name for Spain during its Islamic period]. She spoke of him as a near-contemporary of Ahmed Yasawi. I’m grateful for that moment because it was through this cultivated Kazakh woman who could recite at length poems by both Sufi sages that I developed my lifelong admiration for Ibn Arabi. I found it truly fascinating that two poets, Ibn Arabi and Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, living at opposite ends of the Eurasian continent, could produce such profound and beautiful poetry, inspired by the same spiritual quest for God. TCA: Abai Kunanbayuly, like Cervantes, elevated a nation’s literature and culture. We translated Cervantes into Kazakh many years ago, and Don Quixote has been reprinted many times. We also heard that Abai’s works have been translated into Spanish. How has the Spanish readership received him? LMM: As you know, the late Pope Francis, who was from Argentina, quoted Abai more than a dozen times at the opening of the Seventh Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in 2022. Some works by Abai were translated into Spanish in 2020 by María Sánchez Puig, who received the Order of Dostyk for her work in bringing Kazakh literature closer to Spanish-speaking audiences. Another project is currently underway to translate selections from Abai’s Book of Words into Spanish this year. We’re also developing the first Kazakh-Spanish dictionary to make it...

1 year ago

Entrepreneurship

Kazakh Entrepreneur in Paris Launches Perfume Inspired by the “Kiz-Jibek” Epic

An ethnic Kazakh living in Paris has launched a perfume called Kiz-Jibek on the French market. Its founder, Nurzhan Tolegen, was born in China’s Ili Kazakh region and grew up in Kulja before eventually settling in the French capital. “I am the grandson of a nomadic people. My grandparents left their homeland during the civil war, carrying with them the soul of Kazakhstan etched into their stories, their songs, and their memories. Yet I had never set foot on those vast steppes whose grandeur my mother, a professor of literature, so often evoked,” he shares on his personal website. [caption id="attachment_35686" align="aligncenter" width="466"] Nurzhan Tolegen; image: www.tolegenparis.com[/caption] In 2021, Nurzhan traveled to Kazakhstan for the first time, spending a month reconnecting with his ancestral homeland. Those four weeks felt like a rebirth for him and marked a turning point in his life. Returning to France, he established a luxury perfume house, Tolegen Paris: a tribute to both his surname and to a heroic figure celebrated in a 16th-century Kazakh epic. In May 2025 he introduced Kiz-Jibek, describing it as “a fragrance honoring eternal love” and “a scent laced with wormwood.” The Kiz-Jibek epic, a cornerstone of Kazakh cultural heritage, reflects the values of traditional society. It emphasizes unity and loyalty to the homeland while exploring universal themes of love, virtue, honesty, and beauty. Through the character of Kiz-Jibek, one encounters the timeless image of the Kazakh woman—gentle yet resilient, modest yet dignified. [caption id="attachment_35688" align="aligncenter" width="624"] The epic characters Kiz-Jibek and Tolegen[/caption] For over five centuries, Kazakhs have sung the tale of Kiz-Jibek. Its central figures—Bazarbai, Tolegen, Kiz-Jibek, and Sansyzbai—are believed to have lived in history, with the story unfolding along the Ural River among the Jagalbaily tribe. In both the epic and the famous film, Tolegen is treacherously slain by Bekezhan, after which Kiz-Jibek, devastated by grief, throws herself into the river.

1 year ago

History

Henry Wallace’s Journey to Central Asia and Its Connection to Kazakhstan

Central Asia has long held significance for the Western world — both in the past century and today. The region is home to ancient peoples and rich indigenous traditions. As a journalist from Kazakhstan, I became curious about the cultural ties between the United States and my country. In 2023, I studied at George Washington University through the Bolashak scholarship program to explore this subject in depth. My research led me to numerous works written by American travelers and scholars. Among them, I discovered a book authored by former U.S. Vice President Henry Wallace, based on his journey to Central Asia. [caption id="attachment_35215" align="aligncenter" width="351"] Henry WallaceCredit Hudson Institute[/caption] His book, Soviet Asia Mission, was published in New York in 1946 and reflects observations from that trip. During this special mission in 1944, Wallace first traveled through Siberia, where he studied the conditions of the local population, before continuing on to the Kazakh steppe. Wallace describes the social and political realities of Kazakhstan under Soviet rule, as well as the industrial projects that caught his attention. As a senior American politician, he was particularly interested in production and agriculture. “Down to meet us at the airfield was the director, Georg Georgevich Spitsen. In motorcars, we drove at once to the largest of Karaganda's three big open-pit coal mines. With a sweeping gesture, Spitsen said: “We are digging 6,000 tons of coal a day here. Production began a year ago." A proud shovel operator, scooping up tons of run-of-mine coal to load into steel hopper cars, waved to us. The tracks were driven directly into the cut. We looked closely at the shovel's trademark. It was a Bucyrus Erie electric shovel, one of three at work here, and had been shipped in under lend-lease from the United States.” His journey to Kazakhstan in the previous century demonstrates that U.S.–Kazakh political contacts began earlier than is often assumed.. Although Kazakhstan’s place in the Soviet system was highly constrained, Wallace’s account provides valuable insight into the wartime Soviet republics.. “After lunch at Karaganda, we took off, flying southwest over very dry country. Even the streams were dried out, except in deep valleys where clusters of huts could be seen in the midst of green oases. When still a long distance away, we could see a wide expanse of water ahead. It was Lake Balkhash, bright blue in the midst of gray, treeless country. Along the shore rose the smoking stacks of smelters. On landing at the dirt airfield, we were welcomed to the copper-smelting town of Balkhash by its mayor, Anna Stepanovna Piribinus, president of the city Soviet.” His next stop was Semipalatinsk (today’s Semey). There Wallace spoke with Dimitri Chuvakhin of the Soviet Foreign Office, who accompanied him on the trip. “This kind of thing,” he said, referring to the new towns we had seen, “this kind of thing saved Russia. Trotsky was against it; he thought there had to be a world revolution. Stalin had faith in the moral stamina of...

1 year ago

History

How Did Kazakh Poet Abai Qunanbaiuly`s Name Reach the U.S.?

Kazakh literature is filled with towering figures who have shaped the nation’s cultural and spiritual identity. Among them, Abai Qunanbaiuly (1845–1904) remains the most iconic. A poet, philosopher, and intellectual of global stature, Abai left behind a legacy that continues to resonate within world literature. As Kazakhstan celebrates the 180th anniversary of his birth, it is a fitting moment to explore how his influence extended far beyond the steppe, reaching as far as the United States. George Kennan: The American Who Introduced Abai to the World In 1885, American journalist George Kennan visited Semey (then Semipalatinsk) and was deeply impressed by the city’s public library. To his surprise, local Kazakhs actively borrowed and read books, a rare sight for that time and region. In his influential work Siberia and the Exile System, Kennan specifically mentioned Abai, marking one of the earliest references to the Kazakh thinker in Western literature. Kennan’s account stands out for its authenticity. It is based not on secondhand stories but on direct observation. His writings confirm Abai’s presence in Semey’s intellectual life and suggest that the poet had begun to attract attention well beyond the Kazakh steppe. [caption id="attachment_34625" align="alignnone" width="232"] Credit «Siberia and the Exile System», by George Kennan[/caption] From Kennan’s descriptions, we gain insight into what Abai read, who his associates were, and how his worldview aligned with major thinkers of the time. Abai’s intellectual growth was greatly influenced by E. P. Mikhaelis, a Russian political exile and lifelong friend. Under Mikhaelis’s guidance, Abai refined his reading habits and began a new phase of self-education. Through Mikhaelis, he was introduced to other exiled Russian intellectuals such as S. S. Gross, A. A. Leontiev, and N. I. Dolgopolov. These thinkers were struck by Abai’s intellectual depth, civic engagement, and dedication to the betterment of his people. In return, Abai introduced them to Kazakh culture, history, and oral traditions, becoming a cultural bridge between East and West. [caption id="attachment_34627" align="alignnone" width="300"] Аbai and E.P. Mikhaelis[/caption] Kennan also described the library in Semey, where Abai was a frequent visitor and reader. Since the original excerpt is in English, it is often shared as an image in historical archives rather than a transcription. [caption id="attachment_34628" align="alignnone" width="201"] Credit «Siberia and the Exile System», by George Kennan[/caption] [caption id="attachment_34629" align="alignnone" width="300"] The exterior appearance of the library in Semey where Abai was a reader[/caption] Abai’s Songs and Wesleyan University Abai’s influence extended not only through literature but also through music. In 1970, Wesleyan University Press in Connecticut published Music of Central Asia: Essays on the History of Music of the Peoples of the USSR, a groundbreaking volume by V. Belyaev and other scholars. The book includes a chapter titled Kazakh Music: From the 15th Century to the Mid-18th Century, which devotes special attention to Abai’s musical legacy. Belyaev describes Abai as a progressive thinker and a voice for enlightenment, quoting one of his famous verses: "Song opens the doors of the world to you, Song opens the death to...

1 year ago

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