Improvisational poets have been long known for talking about current issues and people’s aspirations in their songs.
Once Kyrgyzstan gained independence, the art of improvisational poetry received a new impetus. Improvisational poets [akyns], just like in Soviet times, are now very popular and people pay much attention to their performances. In general, this trend was a part of the cultural and televised life of the country, and this year the art of the akyns has drawn attention in terms of politics.
The detention of prominent akyn Bolot Nazarov, who has criticised some influential officials in his performances on his YouTube channel, has drawn much public attention. He was detained during the special operation by law enforcement bodies and accused of possessing and using narcotic substances. Bolot Nazarov denies these accusations from law enforcement officers and relates these actions to his performances. The investigation is in progress.
This high-profile incident has raised the question of artistic freedom of akyns in Kyrgyzstan. Some colleagues of Bolot Nazarov who stood for his immediate release (he is now under home arrest) said that Kyrgyz akyns have never been detained, have always been privileged against arrests andhave always had artistic immunity. This incident causes concern and casts doubt over the artistic freedom of people’s akyns.
Speaking of the freedom of speech, we can say that the newly adopted basic law of the country – the Constitution – has it that everyone is free to express their opinion, has the freedom of speech and freedom of press. Moreover, no one can be forced to express their opinion or diverge from their opinion. The creative work of akyns goes hand in hand with freedom of speech. In their performances, they cover the issues of love, the motherland, and other long-standing problems related to the social life of Kyrgyzstanis.
“Many people think that akyns are just singers, but this is not so. If we take a broader look, they are historians, narrators, artists, actors. The people of Kyrgyzstan have survived so many events, and akyns speak about it in their performances. Today, the art of improvisatory poetry has reached a good level, but still needs to be developed to reach the highest level,” akyn Kubat Tukeshova said to CABAR.asia.
Akyn Zhamaika Tokonova also shares his opinion.
According to her, improvisational poetry develops at a good pace in the country: only mature people used to like the creative work of akyns, but now young people are also involved in the process. In particular, the increasing trend has been observed from 2010, and in 2014-2015 young people were more interested in competitions between akyns.
“Mentors said that once the number of akyns was only 4-5 people, and now their number is more than 50. This trend is also developing among women,” Tokonova said.
According to narrator Kubat Tukeshov, today akyns cover mainly pressing issues such as migration, corruption, officials, Kumtor, and others.
“Why should we speak about it? These questions are raised by all news websites and bloggers and people are tired of this news. People need motivation and hope. If akyns start speaking about problems, their audience will be disappointed. But akyns must be motivators: they should tell jokes and keep people positive. Of course, the truth must be told, but it should be disguised well, and the audience will understand it anyway,” Tukeshov said.
Censorship differs
According to Kubat Tukeshov, there is no censorship as such in Kyrgyzstan, but there is still legal liability for words spoken.
“In general, there is no censorship. They do not tell us: don’t sing about it or don’t speak about it. Of course, we have liability for words spoken. Once, at the competition in Kazakhstan they asked us not to talk too much, but to speak wittily. Speaking about public speeches, for example, on KTRK, if we speak directly and mention names, we will be held liable. Everyone knows the situation in the country. Our job is to present the matter in a disguised way. Akyns try not to cross the line,” Tukeshov said.
Zhamaika Tokonova supported the narrator and said that there is the freedom of speech in the country. However, many people exercise this freedom for other purposes.
Asylbek Maratov, head of Aitysh Public Foundation, shared the opinion of the two above narrators.
“There is no censorship against akyns. Akyns have raised essential social questions for a long time, and I don’t think anything has changed now because we have the freedom of speech, which is valuable to us. We criticise the authorities, raise painful questions. The time we live in today provides everyone with the Internet, YouTube and various messaging apps. The older generation of akyns, such as deceased Elmirbek Imanaliev or Zhenishbek Zhumakadyr, said that in the time of the first president Askar Akayev, they were instructed “from above” not to criticise the authorities. Now we don’t have this situation, we can express our opinion freely,” he said.
In turn, the head of the Public Supervisory Board of the Public Broadcasting Company (KTRK), Azamat Bolgonbaev, said that there is no censorship on state channels because they sometimes broadcast events live.
Other akyns have also criticised the authorities in their performances, yet nothing but the discontent of officials have followed.
“We haven’t received official intimidations or warnings for criticising the authorities. Sometimes, we are told that some ministers or deputies are dissatisfied with our statements, but there have not been any official intimidations,” Bolgonbaev, head of the Public Supervisory Board of OTRK, said.
However, according to the akyn, no one prohibits criticising the authorities in their songs, but it is important not to lose the decent manner of Aitysh [a form of oral folk song poetry].
“Recently, one of the young akyns criticised the authorities at the concert in the memory of prominent akyn Elmirbek Imanaliev by singing, ‘Presidents and authorities change like gloves’ (in Kyrgyz: “Бийлик башындагылар байпактай эле алмашат”)». In my personal opinion, the art of Aitysh should not be dishonoured with bad words. The criticism in the form of aitysh has always been delivered to rulers at all times. But the point is whatthe form was. There are unwritten formats, for example, the format of prominent Elmirbek Imanaliev who has always criticised the authorities but only to the extent of the artistic genre. But the art of Aitysh is not limited to criticism or people’s aspirations only, it praises positive sides, changes in the social life, and it makes it unique. Therefore, educating the younger generation is very important because akyns need to carry out their mission decently. We can see this in the case of Bolot Nazarov,” Bolgonbaev said.
‘Aitysh’ Fund is the only school of akyns in the Kyrgyz Republic
Today there is an ‘Aitysh’ fund in Kyrgyzstan, a school of akyns, which develops the creative skills of fledgling akyns. Film director Sadyk Sher-Niyaz founded the organisation in 2001. In addition to improvising akyns, it’s members are film studio ‘Aitysh Film’, film festival ‘Kyrgyzstan – a country of short films”, cinema ‘Manas’, literary club ‘Kalemger’.
Sadyk Sher-Niyaz launched the school of akyns together with such prominent akyns as Ashyraly Aitaliev, Estebes Tursunaliev and Tuuganbai Abdiev, and by 2014, it had nearly 30 students.
The fund joins akyns, educates young people and guides them. Thanks to the fund, akyns have been invited to international exhibitions, competitions, concerts. In 2015, the art of ‘Aitysh’ was included into the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
“The school has a hall for teachers. Every student must pass particular stages. First, they give us one topic and we should sing about it. Teachers evaluate our performance based on such parameters as how well we could reveal the topic, how wittily you could express your thought, artistic impression, etc. Now many of our guys study there. Among school mentors are such famous akyns as Zhenishbek Zhumakadyrov, Amantai Kutmanaliev, Aaly Tutkuchev,” Tukeshov said.
He said that school is not mandatory, everyone studies there voluntarily.
“The school does not keep the register. Study is free of charge. Young men come here to improve their skills. On the first day, a newcomer observes the process of education, and then receives a komuz. Every ten days, competitions or ‘aitysh’ between students are held. During study and such ‘aitysh’, students try to adopt the experience of their mentors and improve their style. Students try to adopt the advantages of their teachers: someone’s strength is philosophy, other’s strength is poetry skills,” Tukeshov said.
Akyns earn during celebrations
In Kyrgyzstan, the art of improvisational poetry is not the main kind of activity for many narrators. Most of devoted akyns work as toastmasters at festivities and celebrations, and some write lyrics for local entertainers.
“Everyone has a different attitude to this art – some take it as a hobby, other take it as their mission. We have few akyns who work in the philharmonic hall and community centres. They generally earn during celebrations,” Tukeshov said.
According to Azamat Bolgonbaev, head of the supervisory board of OTRK, not all akyns have good social standing or a house. If some akyns work in the philharmonic hall and theatres, younger narrators do not have official jobs.
“Soon, we are planning to open the state theatre ‘Manas’, which is designed to develop the skills of improvising akyns and manaschy – Manas epic tellers. If the theatre starts working, it will become the platform for the development of akyns and for the proper education of young talents. The art of ‘aitysh’ also requires constant development, and we should teach the younger generation in the right direction,” he said.
Unfortunately, the state does not sponsor the creativity of akyns. Previously, contests between akyns were held in honour of the Independence Day on August 31, and the state awarded prizes. However, such events are getting fewer in number these days.
“Previously, I said that the state did not pay attention to akyns and did not pay for their work, unlike Kazakhstan. We hold only 4-5 aitysh contests, while they hold at least 20-30, which is very good for akyns’ development. However, I’ve changed my opinion lately. Far back in the past, such akyns as Barpy or Zhenizhok saw worse situations and still performed, they developed like ‘flowers under stones’. Everything depends on us. Now we have all conditions: internet, books. If you want to become a star, you should open a channel on YouTube,” akyn Tukeshov said.
Narrator Tokonova also paid attention to little support of creative work of akyns from the state.
“If the state supported this trend: provided training, granted scholarships to best students, it would be a good stimulus for their development. But now akyns either perform at celebrations, or have other jobs, and their artistry becomes insignificant. It would be great if the state supported contests among akyns, which would give an impetus to their development,” she said.
Ministry of culture started to provide support only 4-5 years ago
As opposed to the opinion of young narrators, Bolgonbaev said that the state did not support akyns previously, but in recent years the Ministry of Culture, Information and Tourism started to provide some support to them.
“If the prize amount at aitysh held at the republican level is 3 million som (35,377 dollars), half of the amount is provided by the ministry,” he said.
At the same time, Asylbek Maratov said that no one but Sadyk Sher-Niyaz provides support to akyns. He holds various contests at the international and republican levels, and also allocates funds for the prize fund.
“The winning akyn will be lucky as he will have a cash prize. We don’t earn anything for it, Sadyk Sher-Niyaz pays minor amounts to us every month. Unlike pop singers, akyns are invited less frequently. The more famous the akyn, the more often he will be invited to various celebrations and will be paid more, respectively,” the head of the foundation said.