Zhambyl Zhabayev – challenge

Zhambyl Zhabayev was born on February 28, 1846, at the foot of Mount Zhambyl. Growing up free-spirited and mischievous, he learned to play the kobyz and dombra from his mother Uldan. Very early, he felt his passion for poetry. From childhood, he performed excerpts from the epics "Kobylandy", "Alpamys", the Kyrgyz epic "Manas", and the works "Legend of Rustem" and "Korogly".

Participating in aitys poetry contests, Zhambyl became widely known from his youth, at 16-17 years old. The young poet raised pressing issues of Kazakh society through his improvisational art, spoke about the needs of the people, described lawlessness, and called for the struggle for freedom. In Zhambyl songs, in the sounds of his dombra, the true voice of the Kazakh people is heard. "I am a keen-eyed falcon, I am the melody of my country", "I am your Zhambyl" — he addressed the people. He sang about the people and only for the people. Zhambyl works were translated into many languages of the world and published in major editions in the USSR and abroad.

Zh. Zhabayev made a great contribution to the development of poetic art of the Kazakh people, devoting his entire life to glorifying universal human values, goodness, justice, and nurturing patriotism. The texts of many of his songs were lost. Based on the memoirs of Zhambyl himself and his students, a number of aitys texts with Zhambyl participation were later restored. Two poems were recorded: "The Tsar Order Tightened" and "The Stern Decree".

In 1919, the poet participated in the congress of folk poets of Zhetysu (Semirechye), in 1934 in the 1st Republican Festival of Masters of Arts, and in 1936 in the decade of Kazakh literature and art in Moscow.

In 1938, Zh. Zhabayev was elected deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the Kazakh SSR and became a member of the USSR Writers Union. In the spring of 1941, the poet was awarded the USSR State Prize. He was awarded the Orders of Lenin, the Red Banner of Labour, and the Badge of Honour.

Zhabayev poetic heritage has been included in the golden fund of the spiritual treasury of the Kazakh people. "Zhambyl is the brightest and most talented singer of our era," wrote famous Kazakh writer Mukhtar Auezov. Distinguished representative of Russian literature, poet Nikolai Tikhonov, called Zhambyl "the conscience, voice, heart, and truth of his people."

In the poetry of the Great Patriotic War period, Zh. Zhabayev works on the defense of the Fatherland and friendship of peoples took a leading place. For four years, he dedicated works to soldiers, guardsmen, and the cities of Moscow and Leningrad. The poem "Leningraders, My Children!" spread around the world. Many of these works became true gems of patriotic poetry.

The Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve "Monuments of Ancient Taraz", working in the region named after this great personality, organizes significant events dedicated to the anniversary. Today challenge is addressed to the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan and its subordinate arts and museum-reserve teams.