On July 23, 2025, the State Historical, Cultural and Literary Memorial Museum-Reserve of Abai of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan hosted a grand opening ceremony of the exhibition “The World of Abai and Yasawi”, organized jointly with the National Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve “Aziret Sultan”.
The event coincided with a large-scale challenge event «Great Land — Abai, Homeland of the Great — Semey», organized by the Council of Veterans of the city of Semey. Director of the Abai Museum-Reserve Ulan Bolatuly, who spoke first at the ceremonial event, emphasized the importance of the exhibition held on the eve of the 180th anniversary of the great poet Abai Kunanbayev, and the wide glorification in society of the heritage of our people — Yasawi and Abai. The next speaker was the President of the International Society of the Kazakh Language, Honorary Citizen of the city of Semey, Cavalier of the Order of Honor Sharipbayev Oral Toktarovich: «The legacy of Yasawi and Abai is the key to the spiritual development and progress of the Kazakh people, the unshakable iron anchor of our culture,» he said, expressing his sincere opinion. In addition, honorary citizens of the city of Semey, representatives of the intelligentsia and culture, as well as students of grades 7-11 of the Karaul rural secondary school of the Abay district of the Abay district specially took part in this event and recited the wisdom of Yasawi and the poems of Abai, touching the hearts of those gathered. And indeed, today the living poems of two unique personalities sound on the Semey square, bringing great joy to the hearts of both children and the elderly.
Talented students are regular prize winners and participants of the traditional competition “Yasavitanu” and Abai recitation competitions, annually organized by the museum-reserve “Aziret Sultan”.
The purpose of the exhibition:
To mark the 180th anniversary of A. Kunanbaev’s birth – popularization of the poet’s life and work, his rich heritage, presentation of valuable works of the great teacher of the Turkic world Khoja Akhmed Yasawi and outstanding representatives of his school, written in the period from the 12th to the 19th centuries;
Introduction to the thoughts of thinkers and the sources of their creativity through books, manuscripts, memoirs and exhibits from the collection of the museum-reserve;
Introduction to the audience of objects and models of everyday life, printed materials, manuscripts and memorabilia related to the topic.
The exhibition includes manuscripts from the museum collection dedicated to Abay Kunanbauly, memoirs, musical instruments, photographs and oil paintings reflecting the bright life and vibrant legacy of the scientist and sage Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, rare manuscripts of the 19th century, original works by Yasawi, as well as manuscripts of representatives of the Sufi path who glorified the truth — Sufi Allayar, Khoja Hafiz, Alisher Navoi and Suleiman Bakyrgani. Among the unique exhibits is a manuscript of the 10th century Koran translated into the ancient Turkic language. The exhibition will run until August 15, 2025.
K.Yskak, exhibition organizer
