Abai Center
“You are a little brick in the wall of the world.
Find your place in it!”
Publications
Academic articles
Paul Labbe and His Unique Family Portraits of the Kazakh Steppe
Since at least the time of Marco Polo, the Kazakh steppes have attracted many visitors from the West: travelers, diplomats, traders, and researchers. Their notes,
Amanat: Women’s Writing from Kazakhstan
This July, Gaudy Boy will publish an English-language anthology of Kazakhstani women’s writing entitled Amanat. The anthology brings together short stories and essays by 13 women
“Eternal Values in the Work of the Great Abai”: An Essay Contest among the Kazakh Students
The Abai Center in Washington, D.C., supports Kazakh culture and cultural studies and aims to increases the American people’s awareness of—and interest in—various aspects of
Kazakh Graphic Illustrations of Evgeny Sidorkin
Evgeny Matveevich Sidorkin (1930-1982) is a Soviet graphic illustrator and artist who was recognized by several prestigious awards for his art. He mainly worked in
Deciphering the Saukele: The Traditional Headdress of Kazakh Brides
English transcript of the video presentation below Today I am going to talk about one particular type of traditional Kazakh clothing: the headdress of a
Petroglyphs of Kazakhstan
Author Alan Georgievich Medoev (1934-1980) Alan Medoev was born in Leningrad in 1934. In the 1960-1980s he guided archaeological teams and expeditions in
Early Soviet Modernization in the Lives of Kazakh Women
In her book entitled Modernization of the Early Soviet Era in the Fate of Women of Kazakhstan, 1920–1930: Monograph (Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, 2017), Janat
The Cinema of Soviet Kazakhstan 1925–1991: An Uneasy Legacy. An interview with Peter Rollberg
In this interview, Peter Rollberg, one of the rare foreign specialists on Soviet Kazakh cinema, speaks about the first Kazakh filmmakers, their main themes and
Podcast
The Stories of the Modern Kazakh Prose
Retelling selected stories of 20th century Kazakh Literature
“Death of a Borzoi” by Mukhtar Magauin
Mukhtar Magauin is a Kazakh writer, publicist, translator, and researcher of Kazakh folklore. In 1997, he received an international award from the Foundation of Artists
“The Last Madamar” by Anuar Alimzhanov
Anuar Alimzhanov was born on May 2, 1930, in the village of Karlygash in Taldykorgan region. From 1963 to 1967, he worked as editor-in-chief of
The Day the World Collapsed by Rollan Seisenbayev
Rollan Seisenbayev, born October 11, 1946, in Semipalatinsk, is a prominent contemporary Kazakh writer, playwright, and translator. His novels and short stories have been published
White Aruana by Satimzhan Sanbayev
Satimzhan Sanbayev is a Kazakh writer, film actor, and screenwriter. He won the Prize of the Union of Writers of the USSR in 1981 for
Unfortunate Jamal by Myrzhakyp Dulatov
Myrzhakyp Dulatov was born on November 25, 1885. He lost his parents early. Dulatov’s political creed was clearly articulated when, in 1909, he published his
Snow Girl by Oralkhan Bokeev
Oralkhan Bokeev (September 28, 1943 – May 17, 1993) was a Kazakh writer, playwright, and journalist. A bright and sensitive writer, a master wordsmith, Bokeev
Podcast
The Sounds of the Great Steppe
Listen to the latest episodes
Through Artists' Eyes
Abai Kunanbaiuly is one of the most inspiring figures in Kazakh art. Classic paintings, rare photos, and modern pop images depicting Abai transcend generations and social constructs. Every artist sees him differently, from their own soul, leading to particular representations and unique visuals.
Interviews
Abai Center Series
Western Travellers
Kazakhstan & Central Asia: Through the Eyes of Western Travelers
The Great Steppe has long attracted the intrepid and curious adventurers from the West. The Abai Center’s collection of their writings—travelogues, academic field work, diplomatic dispatches, and personal journals—are among the earliest observations of Turkic and nomad culture and customs to be published at large scale.
In the Kirghiz Steppes by J.W. Wardell
Courtesy of Personal Library of Former Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the United States of America H.E. Erzhan Kazykhanov Avid readers of the Abai Center are
A Traveller’s Companion to Central Asia by Kathleen Hopkirk
Courtesy of Personal Library of Former Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the United States of America H.E. Erzhan Kazykhanov Kathleen Hopkirk’s portrayals of Kazakhstan and the
Turkestan Reunion by Eleanor Holgate Lattimore
Courtesy of Personal Library of Former Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the United States of America H.E. Erzhan Kazykhanov Eleanor Holgate Lattimore was born in Evanston,
Events
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