00:00Welcome to Simi, in eastern Kazakhstan.
00:08You might be wondering who the man behind me is.
00:11To truly understand this country, we need to take a look at his story.
00:15He shaped Kazakhstan's history and the Kazakh identity as we know it today.
00:20Let me introduce you to Abay Kunanbayoglu.
00:28The bustling university town of Simi is situated about 700 kilometers east of Astana.
00:34It was here, in the 19th century, that Abay Kunanbayoglu studied and built the foundations
00:39of his heritage as Kazakhstan's most cherished poet, social activist, musician and philosopher.
00:45Today, the Abay Museum is dedicated to his legacy.
00:50Walking through the nine halls of the museum, you can fully grasp the significance of this
00:54great thinker, who is known as the founder of written Kazakh literature.
01:00Abay's seminal book, Words of Edification, contained philosophical reflections and deep
01:05thoughts tackling moral and ethical questions of the time.
01:10Through his work, Abay aimed to modernize the Kazakh society through education, self-improvement
01:15and cultural growth.
01:40Renowned for seamlessly blending Eastern traditions with Western ideas that were modern
01:44at the time, his works paved the path that Kazakh culture continues to follow to this
01:50day.
01:51Abay's poetry, which addresses universal themes such as love, friendship and justice,
01:57had a significant impact.
01:59I came to Astana to Nazarbayev University, where his works are still studied today.
02:05A group of students from the university's poetry club read some of his poems for me.
02:19Abay's poems reflect not only his personal issues, but also the societal issues of his
02:25era.
02:26Though written nearly two centuries ago, they continue to be a major source of inspiration
02:31today.
02:44The dedication of the students and the importance they place on Abay's work helped me understand
02:50why he remains a legend in Kazakhstan today.
02:57Abay's influence is also evident in music, particularly in opera.
03:04The opera Abay, named after him, was created in 1944 by Hamidi and Shubanov, drawing inspiration
03:11from his life.
03:27Considered one of the most beautiful Kazakh operas, it has been performed in Kazakhstan
03:31and abroad for 80 years.
03:34It's part of the Astana Opera's repertoire, and Alam Buribayev, the great grandson of
03:39Shubanov, frequently conducts it.
03:44At the heart of this opera is a forbidden love story between two young people torn between
03:49conservatism and reform, with Abay as their spiritual guide toward hope and freedom.
03:56This story is a pretext to kind of reveal this conflict between the ancient society's
04:04norms and the progressive thinking of Abay.
04:08This opera, featuring some songs written by Abay himself, carries a unique and authentic
04:13touch.
04:15It is exotic in a way that it uses the Kazakh motifs which are new for the European ears,
04:21but at the same time it's written like an opera in the tradition of European opera.
04:26So like Abay himself is a sort of a bridge between Western and Eastern culture.
04:32Abay's legacy lives on in modern Kazakh culture through literature, philosophy, and music,
04:40which blend timeless values with fresh contemporary expression.
04:44His influence, woven into poetry, books, and even opera, invites Kazakhs and visitors alike
04:50to dive into the rich history of this country and its evolving creative spirit.
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