Cultural Cooperation - The Times Of Central Asia

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Euronews Expands Central Asian Presence with New Office in Astana

A regional office of the Euronews TV channel has opened in Astana, marking a significant milestone in promoting Kazakhstan internationally. Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva described the development as an important step in showcasing the nation’s cultural heritage, tourism potential, and investment opportunities to a global audience. “The opening of the Euronews office will provide fresh momentum for popularizing Kazakh culture and serve as a platform for intercultural dialogue and innovative solutions,” Balayeva stated. Euronews has a history of collaboration with Kazakhstan, including its role as a media partner for the World Nomad Games held in Astana. The event’s broadcasts reached over 39 million viewers worldwide. Additionally, the channel has produced ten programs spotlighting Kazakhstan’s investment initiatives and cultural heritage. Euronews Chairman Pedro Vargas highlighted the channel’s commitment to narrating Kazakhstan's unique history - from the era of the Kazakh Khanate to its modern status as an independent Republic, which will celebrate 35 years of sovereignty next year. “We aim to inform global audiences about Kazakhstan’s culture, economy, and heritage by creating original TV shows and collaborating with local entrepreneurs and artists,” Vargas stated. A cornerstone of the collaboration is the Euronews Academy project, which will offer training and masterclasses for Kazakh journalists, enhancing the professional expertise of the nation’s media personnel. The channel is already developing 20 new initiatives, including the cultural and artistic program Modern Nomads, the business-focused East-West Connect, and the interview series, Voices from Central Asia.

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Turkmen Scientists Acquire Over 100 Rare Manuscripts from the UK

Researchers from the Institute of Language, Literature, and National Manuscripts at the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan have returned from the United Kingdom with 107 electronic copies of valuable manuscripts. These acquisitions enrich the collection of historical materials documenting the cultural heritage of the Turkmen people. From November 2 to 23, researchers Amandurdy Nuraev and Guichmyrat Changliyev conducted studies at two of the UK’s most renowned repositories: the British Library in London and the John Rylands Research Institute and Library in Manchester. These archives house extensive collections of historical documents, including rare manuscripts with significant relevance to Turkmenistan’s history and culture. The expedition culminated in the transfer of electronic copies of key documents to Turkmenistan. Among the manuscripts are works by prominent authors such as Makhtumkuli Fraghi, Alisher Navoi, Fizuli, and Hussein Baygara, along with other renowned oriental poets and scholars. Special emphasis was placed on uncovering works previously unknown to the Turkmen academic community. In addition to literary compositions, the manuscripts provide unique insights into the history and traditions of the Turkmen people. These materials offer new opportunities for studying the heritage of Makhtumkuli Fraghi, a celebrated figure and symbol of Turkmenistan’s national culture. This significant achievement enhances the preservation and understanding of Turkmenistan’s rich literary and historical legacy, contributing to broader academic and cultural exploration.

Cultural Heritage Literature Organization of Turkic States Cultural Cooperation TURKSOY

Ashgabat Hosts Turkic Writers’ Forum

On October 18-19, leading cultural and literary figures gathered in Ashgabat, to attend a forum of Turkic writers organized within the program “Anau—Cultural Capital of the Turkic World 2024". With a focus on the importance of preserving and developing common cultural heritage, the event attracted representatives of the writers' unions of Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, as well as prominent cultural figures of Turkmenistan. Honored guests included Ulugbek Esdevlet, president of the TURKSOY Writers' Union, and Sultan Raev, secretary general of the organization, who in his address, emphasized: “This forum is a unique platform for demonstrating the rich literary heritage of the Turkic world and passing on our common cultural heritage to future generations.” During the forum, the Union of TURKSOY Writers held a meeting to discuss promising projects for developing the literature of Turkic-speaking peoples, including programs to support young authors, the expansion of translation activities, and the organization of international literary contests. In addition to complementary activities such as poetry readings, the forum afforded students from the Turkmen State Institute of Culture, a unique opportunity to engage with prominent writers.

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Turkey Replaces “Central Asia” with “Turkestan” in New History Curriculum

Turkey’s Ministry of National Education has unveiled significant changes to its history curriculum, replacing the phrase “Central Asia” with “Turkestan.” Experts say this shift reinforces national identity and instills stronger patriotism in future generations. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed the importance of the unity of the Turkic world: “We will work shoulder to shoulder to make the coming period the era of the Turks by extending our vision of the ‘Turkish Century’ to the Organization of Turkic States.” Professor Ahmet Taşagıl explained the historical meaning of the term Turkestan to TRT Haber. “The word Turkestan, meaning ‘homeland of the Turks’, has been used since the earliest periods of history. In the second half of the 19th century, due to the Russian invasion, the concept of Central Asia was introduced and spread instead of the name Turkestan,” he mentions. Associate Professor Ramin Sadık commented on the decision of the Ministry of Education for TRT Haber. “Our appeal to the concept of Turkestan and its inclusion in textbooks by the Ministry of National Education is a very correct decision. Both Turkey and Turkestan mean a region where the Turks predominantly live,” Sadık said. The expert notes that during efforts to create a shared history, geography, literature, maps, and alphabet for the Turkic world, the Ministry of National Education’s decision to use “Turkestan” in textbooks, even for children, is a significant step. He believes this change is a crucial start and a valuable contribution to Turkey, the entire Turkic world, and its partner countries. Experts say the change is part of a broader strategy to strengthen ties in the Turkic world, including creating a shared history, literature, maps, and alphabet.

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Turkmen Designers Present Their Works at an Evening of Art in Brussels

An evening dedicated to Turkmen art and traditions, organized by the Embassy of Turkmenistan within the framework of cultural exchange, was held in Brussels. The event brought together cultural sector representatives from Central Asia and Europe, including fashion and art figures. The Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Belgium, Sapar Palvanov, opened the meeting, noting that Turkmen culture is a heritage that needs to be protected and passed on to new generations. The diplomat emphasized the role of cultural diplomacy as a means of strengthening ties between peoples. “Culture has always been a neutral sphere that unites people," Palvanov stated. An essential part of the program was a speech dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the great poet, Makhtumkuli. The Ambassador spoke about how his ideas continue to inspire not only Turkmen, but people of other nations, influencing Turkmenistan's cultural ties with Europe. The evening's guests were presented with the works of talented Turkmen designers, Sheker Akiniyazova, Shemshat Tachmammedova, and Ogulbeg Berdimiradov. Their collections combined traditional elements with modern fashion. The designers also participated in the Brussels cultural program and presented at European institutions. Elena Kharitonova, founder of Caravan Cultura CreArt Agency in the Netherlands who co-organized the event emphasized the preservation of cultural values through modern projects and her support for young Turkmen designers.

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The First-Ever Audio Recording of Kazakh Music

It was long believed that the world's first audio recording of Kazakh music was made in 1925 during the performance of singer, Amre Kashaubaev, at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes in France. However, the Berlin Museum of Visual Anthropology and Ethnology has recordings of Kazakh folk music, voices, and ritual chants, which were made in western Kazakhstan twenty years earlier. These recordings were made during the Acoustic Era, when sound waves were still recorded through analog methods. In 1857, Frenchman, Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville invented the so-called phonautograph. Three years later, the world's first song was recorded. It was a French folk song, “By the Light of the Moon”. In 1877, Thomas Edison invented the phonograph. This invention could both record and playback audio and marked the start of the Acoustic Era. Later, in 1900, Carl Stumpf, a professor of psychology at the University of Berlin, established a phonogram archive in Berlin, where, at the same time, an orchestra from Thailand was touring. Stumpf recorded the Thai music, which was considered exotic to Europeans at that time. This recording became the first in the rich Ethnomusicology collection of the Ethnological Museum of Berlin. These recordings were originally discovered at the Institute of Russian Literature, also known as Pushkin House, which is part of the network that is affiliated with the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dr. Efim Rezvan, a well-known scholar of Turkology, showed the TCA team the wax rollers - cylindrical wax containers that can be played using Edison's phonograph. The first-ever audio recordings of Kazakh music were made using these devices. The German scientist Richard Karutz recorded them in the early 20th century when he organized an expedition to the steppes of Turkestan. As a result of his expedition, he wrote a book called Among the Kirghiz and Turkmens in Mangyshlak. During his expedition, Karutz took many photos and collected audio recordings of the local peoples' art. In addition to his scientific research, Karutz pursued other goals; for instance, he wrote about the health benefits of tea, which the locals consumed in large quantities. He claimed that drinking tea in large quantities when the air temperature was over 40 degrees Celsius helped them to bear the heat. Karutz wrote that, “It is necessary for our troops to weigh the importance of tea consumption during summer maneuvers and campaigns.” Richard Karutz was born into a mercantile family. In 1886, he went to study medicine at the University of Jena 1891. Completing his studies and receiving his doctorate in 1891, he then worked as a doctor aboard a ship. Whilst on working as a surgeon on a ship, Karutz traveled to South America and West Africa. After these trips, Karutz became interested in ethnography. In 1896, he was appointed head of the ethnographic collection of the Museum of Ethnology in Lübeck. Karutz enriched the museum's collection with artifacts from his travels, and encouraged other merchants and travelers to bring items from other countries for the collection. The...