Publications

Samuil Dudin (1863-1929) made his first trip to the Great Steppe in 1891 on the Orkhon expedition on study of Mongolian antiquities. Dudin made keen documentation and photographs of Kazakh culture, community, lifestyle and art of the late 19th century.

Women wielded decisive power, control and influence within the traditional family structure of nomadic people of the Great Steppe. Exclusive to the Abai Center, Inga Stasevich, Central Asia expert at Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology in St. Petersburg,

Dr. Paul Michael Taylor writes of the collaboration between Kazakhstan & The Smithsonian's Asian Cultural History Program (ACHP).

Historian Sergey Yatsenko analyses new information and artifacts on historical dress and fashion, while painting a vivid portrait of historical Turkic culture.

The qyl-qobyz, a Kazakh folk instrument, provides unique insight into Kazakhstan's nomadic history and culture. Ethnomusicologist Megan Rancier writes on the instrument's past and relevance today.

Prominent Kazakh scholar Edyge Tursunov paints a brilliant new picture of the jyrau, early Kazakh poets, philosophers, and warriors.

Many refer to Kazakhstan as “young.” But the reality is that it has a rich history and tradition of philosophy and poetry that continues to influence today.

Mukhtar​ Auezov the greatest Kazakh writer of the 20th century, made the last journey of his life to the United States of America.

Mukhtar Auezov, in his classic novel Abai Zholy, suggested Kazakh oral poetry played just as important a role in Abai's maturation as an artist.

The concept of ‘Kazakhness’ was saved from the brink of eradication and successfully survived the toughest of hardships under Soviet rule

Scholar Tatyana Anikeeva traces the origins of the Turkic literary epic to the rich cultural heritage of Kazakh nomadic society.

Scholar Diana Kudaibergenova speaks to the continuing relevance of Abai as a cultural figure in modern Kazakhstan, while recognizing his rich history and titan-like status.

Abai was undoubtedly a modernist. How did he develop his peculiar view and language? Kazakh intelligentsia give insight into Abai's way.

Peter Rollberg, Associate Dean and Professor at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, writes on Abai's life and works.