Abai’s legacy brought generations together. In Dushanbe, the 181st anniversary of the birth of the great Kazakh poet and thinker was marked with performances of his famous songs, poetry and Words of Edification, DKNews.kz reports.
The commemorative ceremony was attended by Valikhan Turekhanov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic of Tajikistan, Embassy staff, Kazakh citizens living and working in Tajikistan, Kazakh students studying at universities in the country, and representatives of the Kazakh diaspora.
Flowers Laid at Abai’s Bust in Dushanbe
The ceremony took place at the bust of Abai Kunanbaiuly in Abulqosim Firdavsi Park in Dushanbe.
The monument was unveiled on August 21, 2024, during the Days of Culture of Kazakhstan in Tajikistan, ahead of the state visit of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Participants laid flowers at the bust, paying tribute to the memory of the great Kazakh poet, thinker and educator.
Ambassador Calls Abai a Spiritual Guide for Generations
In his remarks, Valikhan Turekhanov highlighted Abai’s special role in shaping the spiritual and moral foundations of Kazakh society.
“Abai is not only a great name in the history of Kazakh literature. He is a spiritual guide whose words retain their power and relevance for every generation. His call for knowledge, enlightenment, honest work and moral responsibility remains particularly significant today,” the Ambassador said.
The ceremony highlighted Abai’s ideas about education, work, enlightenment and personal responsibility — themes that run throughout his literary and philosophical legacy.
“Kozimnin Karasy” and “Zhelsiz Tunde Zharyk Ai” Performed in Dushanbe
The commemorative event continued with a musical program.
Musicians performed two of Abai’s best-known works, “Kozimnin Karasy” and “Zhelsiz Tunde Zharyk Ai,” which have become an integral part of Kazakh musical and poetic culture.
Abai’s legacy was therefore represented in Dushanbe not only through speeches and poetry, but also through the music that remains closely associated with his name.
Children Recited Abai’s Poems and Words of Edification
Another part of the ceremony featured children of employees of the Embassy of Kazakhstan.
They recited Abai’s poems and excerpts from his renowned Words of Edification. Their participation underscored the continuity between generations, with works written more than a century ago being voiced by a new generation of Kazakh children.
The bust of Abai, unveiled in 2024, has become one of Kazakhstan’s permanent cultural symbols in the Tajik capital. Earlier, we reported on how a bust of the great Kazakh thinker Abai was unveiled in Dushanbe.
