WELCOME TO KAZAKHSTAN

Nauryz is more than just a symbol of the arrival of spring. This holiday embodies the renewal of nature, the rebirth of life, and, at the same time, the spiritual renewal of humanity. In recent years, the celebration of Nauryznama as a ten-day program demonstrates a desire to imbue the holiday with deeper cultural content and extend it beyond the confines of ordinary festive events, transforming it into a large-scale cultural process.Kazakh culture is a centuries-old civilizational system imbued with profound symbolism and rich meaning. It is not limited to folklore or ethnographic monuments. It is a holistic worldview, a way of life, a system of values, and moral guidelines. Traditions and national culture, closely intertwined with the daily life of the people, serve more than just the decoration of celebrations. They form a spiritual space that connects the past and present of the nation, reflecting social processes and the historical stages of society's development. One of the most striking manifestations of this cultural tradition is the art of aitys. Aitys is one of the most important spiritual legacies of the Kazakh people. Passed down from generation to generation for centuries, it reflects the nation's worldview, the depth of its philosophical thought, the richness of its language, and its poetic mastery. Aitys is a unique poetic competition that showcases improvisation, resourcefulness, and creative energy. Its origins lie in the rich tradition of oral folklore. Aitys has reflected social changes, the people's aspirations and experiences, public opinion, and national identity throughout history. Aitys encompasses various aspects of the cultural life of the Kazakh people:Aitys "Bedik" is one of the oldest forms of aitys. It originated in ancient times as a ritual song competition aimed at curing illnesses and harmful natural phenomena. In such performances, poets invoked the power of words as a kind of prayer, conveying through verse the people's desire for harmony with nature. The "Zhar-Zhar" aitys is associated with traditional Kazakh wedding ceremonies. Through poetic dialogue, the feelings and experiences of a young woman and a young man as they enter into a new family life are conveyed.Aitys based on proverbs is built on the use of proverbs and sayings. In it, poets compete, drawing on wise sayings, vividly reflecting life experience and folk wisdom.Aitys between a young woman and a young man touch on the themes of love, everyday life, and the meaning of human existence. This genre, where humor and sincerity intertwine, particularly showcases the performers' resourcefulness and eloquence.Political aitys is dedicated to the discussion of current social and political issues. Poets express popular opinion, shape public consciousness, and assess current events in society.Verbal competitions are most often held as part of cultural events and serve as a creative competition that tests poetic abilities and improvisational skills. Aitys kyui is linked to the tradition of Kazakh instrumental music—the art of kyui performance. In such performances, poets create verses about the meaning and depth of the kyui, revealing the connection between the akyn and the kyuishi. This type of aitys emphasizes the richness of the Kazakh people's musical culture and demonstrates the important role of the kyui in their spiritual life.We spoke with a renowned representative of this art, akyn Aytakyn Bulgakov, about the role of aitys in public life and its contemporary development. According to him, aitys is not simply a poetic competition between two performers, but an important part of the people's spiritual heritage."Aitys may appear as a verbal confrontation between two people, but in reality, it is a significant spiritual heritage of the people. This unique art is closely connected to the traditions of oral folklore—ancient epic tales and terme. Aitys is not simply about outdoing one's opponent." It raises important social issues, discussing the achievements and problems of society. Looking back at history, we can recall Zhanak's speech to Rustem Tore, as well as the speeches of Baktybay and Suyunbay addressed to Tezek Tore. These examples vividly demonstrate a unique "steppe democracy." During the Soviet period, aitys fell into the shadows for a time, but in the mid-1980s, it began to actively revive.From 1984 until the early 2000s, aitys experienced a period of intensive development. Folk akyns—Konysbay Abil, Aselkhan Kalybekova, Asiya Berkenova, as well as Koken Shakeyev, Manap Kokenov, Kopbay Omarov, and Abiken Sarybay—strengthened the foundations of this art and formed a true school of aitys, notes Aytakyn Bulgakov.According to the akyn, there are certain issues in the contemporary development of aitys that require attention and discussion. – Recently, some aitys have increasingly resembled pre-prepared productions. Genuine improvisation is becoming less common, and performances are often reduced to just a few familiar chants. Meanwhile, it's important for an akyn to possess not only technical mastery but also spiritual depth, culture, and a strong inner stance. Of course, I don't want to generalize – there are many talented and strong akyns today. However, it seems that modern aitys sometimes lacks sincerity and warmth.A culture of constructive criticism is also important in aitys. Therefore, in my opinion, it would be appropriate to create a special criticism department within the Aitys Union. Akyns should be systematically selected and ranked according to skill level – this will improve the quality and standard of the art itself.Overall, aitys can be called a unique theater of the great steppe. An akyn should be able not only to make listeners laugh but also, through humor and figurative language, to address pressing social issues, making the audience think. The ability to convey such themes subtly and veiledly is a sign of true mastery. For those who deeply feel and understand this art, aitys is a whole world unto itself. Preserving its sincerity and not losing its spiritual loftiness is one of the most important tasks of today, the akyn concluded.