Shakira Will Bring World Tour to Kyrgyzstan

Last month, it was still unclear whether Shakira would perform in Kyrgyzstan. No longer. Shakira will be at the Bishkek Arena on October 18 as part of her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran world tour, her official website says. Kanybek Tumanbaev, head of the presidential affairs department, had earlier teased the concert in a social media post that stirred fans and was widely reported by Kyrgyz media. The government-run GovTicket platform is offering ticket prices ranging from $137, or 12,000 Kyrgyz som, for a restricted view in the stands; to $309, or 27,000 som, for the “main standing area behind the fan zones, with a direct stage view” to $2,059, or 180,000 som, for the most exclusive VIP box seats. “It's a stadium show with hits from across her career — Hips Don't Lie, Whenever, Wherever, Waka Waka, She Wolf — plus songs from her latest album,” the ticket website says. More than 13,000 tickets for Shakira’s show were sold on the first day after they went on sale, with purchases made from 22 countries, Kyrgyzstan's Channel 7 reported. Citing the presidential administration, it said most of the foreign buyers were from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. The newly constructed Bishkek Arena has a capacity of 51,000 people. Its design was inspired by the yurt, the traditional tent used by Central Asian nomads, and the stadium hosted the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games in August. Excitement is building in Kyrgyzstan ahead of the concert. Bishkek Petroleum, an oil and gas company, says it is giving away two tickets with an excellent view of the stage. The winner will be “randomly selected” from those who fill up at one of its gas stations and post about it on social media, the company says. Just last month, there were reports in Kyrgyz media that it was unclear whether the concert would happen. Some accounts said it might happen in November. Tumanbaev, the presidential official, hinted at the concert in an Instagram post to his nearly two million followers several weeks ago. “We'd like to see her at the Bishkek Arena!” he said. “Are you waiting for it?”

Global Conflicts Fuel a Wave of Cancellations in Central Asia’s Cultural Scene

On September 20, performers from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan took part in the international “Intervision-2025” contest in Moscow, a music competition often described as the Eurasian counterpart to Eurovision. Originally launched in the 1970s by countries of the Eastern Bloc, Intervision has been periodically revived as a stage for showcasing regional talent and cultural diversity, with recent editions aiming to strengthen cultural exchange across Eurasia. At the event, last held in Sochi, Russia, in 2008, the Kyrgyz performers, Nomad, earned second place. But even as regional talent competes on the global stage, a parallel trend is intensifying at home: artists, especially Russians, are increasingly being “canceled” across Central Asia. The root cause, observers say, is Russia's war in Ukraine. Mounting Controversies Concert cancellations, particularly in Kazakhstan, have become so frequent that international artists are growing wary. On September 17, organizers for Canadian pop star The Weeknd announced the cancellation of his planned show in Almaty. They cited a broader pattern of artist cancellations in the country. “In light of recent events and online discussions, we have decided to consider hosting the concert elsewhere,” the statement read. Sources suggest the cancellation was indirectly linked to the backlash over an upcoming concert by Russian rapper Timati, who has publicly supported the war in Ukraine. The online campaign has reportedly cast a shadow over unrelated performances, including The Weeknd’s. At the same time, anti-war artists are also being blocked. Belarusian rapper Max Korzh saw his Almaty show canceled, despite his public criticism of the war. The decision may have been influenced by riots at his August concert in Warsaw, where Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) symbols were seen. In Russia, the UPA is classified as an extremist group; in Poland, it is accused of wartime atrocities against Poles. Following the event, the Polish authorities deported 57 Ukrainians and 6 Belarusians. Kazakh officials, observers say, are keen to avoid similar controversies. The War’s Cultural Fallout Ideological divides are reshaping Central Asia’s cultural landscape. Once welcome, Russian performers now frequently face petitions and protests. In August, an online campaign demanded the cancellation of pop singer Polina Gagarina’s November concert in Kazakhstan. Petitioners argued her public support for Moscow’s policies contradicted international law and risked provoking social unrest. Russian rock singer Zemfira reportedly canceled her June concert at the request of venue owners. Other Russian artists, including Grigory Leps, Vladimir Presnyakov, and the Turetsky Choir, have been barred due to perceived support for the war. The “Zhara” music festival was also scrapped following online criticism, with the Kazakh Minister of Culture citing "political propaganda and attempts to divide society" as the reasons behind the decision. Meanwhile, anti-war comedians and musicians are facing hurdles. Maksim Galkin, designated a “foreign agent” by Russia and now living in Israel, has complained of bans in Kazakhstan. Outspoken rapper Alisher Morgenstern canceled concerts in Almaty and Astana last year, while both his and Leps’ shows were prohibited in Kyrgyzstan. Officials in Bishkek cited moral concerns, accusing Morgenstern of undermining “Kyrgyz traditions...