Today is birthday of outstanding Kazakh poet Zhambyl Zhabayev

Zhambyl Zhabayev (1846-1945), who lived for almost a centenary, was a witness and chronicler of the most important historical events, while his legacy left an indelible mark in Kazakh literature.

Born into a family of nomads, Zhambyl became interested in the art of aitys (poetic competition) and dombra playing from early childhood. He was a pupil of famous improviser Suyunbay. At the age of 14, Zhambyl left his village to devote his life to poetry.

He repeatedly won in the aitys of prominent akyns (poets) of late XIX-early XX centuries. The recorded improvisations of the pre-revolutionary period include such epics as “Suranshi-Batyr” and “Utegen-Batyr”, fairy tales “Khan and Akyn”, “The Tale of the Lazy Man”. 

During the Great Patriotic War, his patriotic song “Leningraders, My Children!” became a symbol of support and bravery of the residents of blockaded Leningrad.

For his merits, Zhambyl Zhabayev was awarded the Stalin Prize. In the last years of his life, Zhambyl lived in a house surrounded by a garden that he had grown himself. After his death in 1945, a Literary Memorial Museum and a mausoleum were opened in the village of Zhambyl, located 70 kilometers from Almaty.

Streets, theatres and philharmonic halls, both in Kazakhstan and abroad, were named after Zhambyl Zhabayev. A monument was installed in Taraz  and a bronze sculpture was unveiled in Almaty. Documentary films, postal stamps and commemorative coins were released in his honor too.