Abai’s legacy brought generations together. In Berlin, children from the Kazakh diaspora and staff of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Germany laid flowers at the monument to Abai Kunanbaiuly to mark the birthday of the great Kazakh poet, philosopher, and educator, DKNews.kz reports.
For the young participants, the event was more than a formal ceremony. It offered a chance to discover the thinker whose ideas about knowledge, mutual respect, and openness to the world remain an integral part of Kazakhstan’s spiritual and cultural identity.
Why Abai Is Honored Beyond Kazakhstan
Abai Kunanbaiuly holds a unique place in the history of Kazakh culture.
His legacy goes far beyond literature. Abai’s philosophical ideas address education, morality, personal responsibility, and the constant pursuit of self-improvement.
That is why his memory continues to be honored by Kazakhstanis living abroad.
Participants in the Berlin event remembered Abai as a thinker whose works still connect new generations with Kazakhstan’s history and spiritual traditions.
A Literary Evening for Children in a Kazakh Yurt
Children were at the heart of the program.
A literary evening dedicated to Abai’s life and work was held for them in a traditional Kazakh yurt. Young guests became acquainted with his writings and discussed the key ideas behind his philosophy.
The format made it possible to explore classical literature through lively conversation rather than a conventional classroom lesson.
The children learned why Abai placed such strong emphasis on education, self-development, and openness to new knowledge, as well as the role his legacy has played in shaping modern Kazakh culture.
Discovering Abai Through a Quiz
The literary program was followed by a themed quiz.
Children answered questions about Abai’s biography, works, and worldview. The competitive format turned learning about history and literature into an engaging activity and helped reinforce what they had learned.
For Kazakh families living outside the country, this approach has particular value.
Language, literature, and history are easier to preserve when children do not simply hear about them from adults, but actively take part in cultural events themselves.
Keeping a Connection With Kazakhstan Thousands of Kilometers Away
For the diaspora, cultural events serve a much broader purpose than simply marking important dates.
Children growing up in Germany often live at the intersection of several cultural environments. Learning about Abai helps them better understand the country of their parents and their own cultural roots.
This does not mean closing themselves off within a single culture.
On the contrary, Abai’s ideas about mutual respect, education, and openness to the world resonate strongly with a generation growing up across different languages, traditions, and societies.
Abai Monument Opened in Berlin in 2021
The location of the event also carries symbolic meaning.
The monument to Abai Kunanbaiuly was unveiled in Berlin in 2021 and has since become one of the visible cultural symbols of ties between Kazakhstan and Germany.
It stands close to a street that also bears the name of the Kazakh thinker.
For Berlin, it is part of the city’s cultural landscape. For Kazakhstanis, it is a place where their national history remains visible far beyond the country’s borders.
When Culture Speaks Louder Than Official Words
Events like this show how cultural diplomacy can work at the most human level — through children, families, books, and shared memory.
Official relations between countries are measured through agreements and high-level visits. But lasting ties often begin much more quietly: with a poem being read, a conversation about history, or flowers placed at a monument.
In Berlin, Abai’s legacy once again became a bridge — between Kazakhstan and Germany, between parents and children, and between the past and a new generation that will carry Kazakhstan’s story forward in its own voice.
