Abai’s words were heard in Finnish. The Embassy of Kazakhstan in Finland hosted the traditional Abai Readings, dedicated to the great Kazakh poet, thinker, and educator Abai Kunanbaiuly, DKNews.kz reports.
A special feature of this year’s program was that Abai’s works were performed not only in Kazakh and English, but also in Finnish.
Why Translating Abai into Finnish Matters
For a foreign reader, translation is the first bridge to an author.
When a literary work is heard in the audience’s native language, its philosophy and emotional tone become more accessible, while national literature no longer feels distant or confined to one country.
That is why the Finnish-language part of the program became one of the highlights of the evening.
Through Abai’s works, the Finnish audience had an opportunity to discover not only Kazakh poetry, but also the worldview that helped shape Kazakhstan’s cultural and intellectual tradition.
Three Languages, One Meaning
Participants recited selected poems and excerpts from Abai’s works in Kazakh, Finnish, and English.
This multilingual format showed how the same text can take on new shades of meaning in different linguistic environments.
The organizers highlighted the participants’ strong preparation, expressive performances, and thoughtful engagement with the meaning of Abai’s works.
The event was not simply about reading technique.
The main goal was to convey Abai’s ideas in a way that could be understood and felt regardless of whether the listener spoke Kazakh, Finnish, or English.
Why Abai Remains Relevant Today
Abai’s literary legacy has long gone beyond the boundaries of school curricula and classical poetry.
His works explore knowledge, hard work, responsibility, morality, and a person’s ability to improve themselves — themes that are not limited by time or geography.
That is why Abai can be read in Helsinki today and still offer ideas that resonate with a modern European audience.
For Kazakhstan, this is also a way to present the country to the world through culture, rather than only through politics, economics, or official diplomacy.
Competition Added Energy to the Evening
The Abai Readings also included a competitive program.
Participants were recognized in several categories, including “For Artistry,” “For Deep Understanding of the Text,” and the “Audience Choice Award.”
Memorable prizes were presented to the participants who distinguished themselves.
The competition made the literary evening more dynamic and engaging, turning the audience from passive observers into part of a shared cultural experience.
How Literature Becomes Cultural Diplomacy
The Abai Readings were organized with the support of the Saule Cultural Center.
Initiatives like this often work where formal speeches cannot: they introduce people to a country through language, literature, and personal emotion.
For Kazakhstan, this is an opportunity to make its literary classics better known beyond its borders.
For Finland, it offers another way to see Kazakhstan not simply as a country on the map of Eurasia, but as a nation with a rich intellectual and literary tradition.
Abai in Helsinki Is More Than a Literary Evening
When the works of a Kazakh poet begin to sound in Finnish, the distance between the two cultures becomes smaller.
Abai ceases to be an author known mainly to Kazakh readers and becomes part of a broader international conversation about humanity, education, and moral values.
That is the deeper meaning of events like this.
Kazakh literature crosses linguistic borders, while cultural dialogue between Kazakhstan and Finland gains a living form — through poetry, voice, and meaning.
