UNESCO MEMORY OF THE WORLD REGISTER
NOMINATION FORM
Kyrgyzstan -Historical Collection of Archive Sound Recordings (1903-1975) of the Kyrgyz
Mediaeval Epics in the Manas Tradition narrated by Kenje-Kara and Other Great Story-Tellers
PART A – ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
1.
SUMMARY
Amongst the world’s oldest, greatest and most extensive continuing epic traditions are those of the Turkic
Kyrgyz peoples as told by countless generations of wandering traditional story-tellers (Manaschis) across
Central Asia from at least the 9th century onwards and later recorded in writing and sound media in the late
19th and early 20th centuries. Whilst some Turkish peoples were integrated from the early Middle Ages
onwards into the Islamic world and adopted (and enhanced) its writing forms and literary traditions,
others, who were both geographically and ideologically distant from the Muslims, safeguarded their
traditions in oral forms. These Kyrgyz epics are considered to belong to the heritage of all Turkic peoples
and form an unprecedented cornerstone for the reconstruction of the history and characteristics of their
historical nomadic life and culture.
The most renowned of the Turkic epics is Manas. Manas was composed in the 10th century and relates the
heroic efforts of the Kyrgyz tribal lords in the 9th century to conquer the Uighurs, the Kalmyks and the
Chinese, and the subsequent uniting by Manas of the many disparate Kyrgyz tribes and their movements
from the Yenisei to the Altai and eventually the Alai and Ferghana Valley regions of Central Asia. Manas
was first extensively recorded in writing in 1885 (although its existence was documented from the 16 th
century onwards) when V.V. Radlov, the well-known Russian Turkologist, published his Russian
translation in Saint Petersburg. Manas is a trilogy consisting of: Manas, which relates the life and heroic
deeds of the great Kyrgyz hero (who eventually marries Kanykei, the daughter of the ruler of Bukhara);
Semetey, which relates the story of Manas’ son and successor and Seitek, the story of Semetey’s son who
brings the efforts of his father and grandfather into fruition. The most complete version of the epic trilogy,
narrated by the 20th century Manaschi, Sayakbai Karalaev (1894-1971), consists of some 500,000 verses.
Because of their broad and ancient ethnogenic documentary significance for the peoples of this vast steppe
and mountain realms, these epic tales were allowed to survive as living traditions through the Soviet
period when others, more-localised, were condemned and progressively destroyed through state policies
of anti-nationalism. However, their narrative is not frozen in time. Each Manaschi or traditional storyteller moulded his tale to accommodate developments of his day. Thus the Manas renditions progressively
reflect the Islamisation of the Kyrgyz and the regions were they dwelt, their later interaction with the
imperial Russians, etc.
The first detailed scientific researches in Central Asia (as it is known today) were undertaken in the 19 th
century by Russian travelers and leading scientists, such as P.P. Semionov-Tyan-Shanskiy, N.M.
Prjevalskiy and other members of the Russian Geographic Society, whose headquarters were in St.
Petersburg. These scientific explorations included the nature and peoples of Kyrgyzstan and adjacent
regions.
In 1903 a scientific expedition patronised by the Russian Geographic Society undertook ethnographical
research in little-known parts of the Semirechye province in the Turkestan region (these areas used to be a
part of the Russian empire and now are Kyrgyz territory) near Pishpek (Bishkek – the capital of the
Kyrgyz Republic). This scientific research introduced the history and distinctive culture of the Kyrgyz to
the peoples of many countries.
The artist of this expedition, B.V. Smirnov, composed an album of sketches of Pishpek, its neighborhoods,
and its residents. He also phonographically recorded part of the classic Kyrgyz story within the Manas
trilogy, Semetey, as told by the famous Kenje-Kara, one of the great traditional storytellers of the end of
the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. Smirnov also drew a portrait depicting Kenje-Kara as he
narrated Semetey, a unique first-hand image of one of the world's great oral traditions.
The Russian Geographical Society at that time understood the unique importance of these recording
activities and allocated a certain amount of money for this activity. Thus this first phonograph record and
the associated image became an important historical-ethnographical source of information about the
Kyrgyz and the great Central Asian oral epic traditions as they existed at the end of the 19 th and beginning
of the 20th century. Together they constitute a unique, single and inimitable archival record.
The content of this early recording of the oral tradition is also of significance in confirming that the
ancient Kyrgyz Kaganat occupied territory from the Altai Mountains in the east to the Aral Sea in the
west. We will never know the names of the first storytellers in this geographically and temporally vast
tradition. They are not recorded on paper or parchment nor carved in stone. We know only a few names of
the great storytellers besides Kenje-Kara (among them are Moldobasan Musulmankulov, Sayakbei
Karalaev and Shabay Azizov) and they are known because their voices were recorded on magnetic tape,
recordings which are also kept in the unique historical collection of Kyrgyz phonograms in the audio
records reserves of the Kirghiz Central State Archives. Nevertheless, the tradition continues to flourish in
Kyrgyzstan.
This collection of precious historical sound recordings and related documentation captures significant
portions of these Manas epics as narrated and sung by the great Manaschis of the 19 th and 20th centuries,
Kenje-Kara, Moldobasan Musulmankulov, Sayakbai Karalaev and Shabay Azizov.
2
DETAILS OF THE NOMINATOR
2.1
Central State Archives of Audiovisual Media of the Kyrgyz Republic.
2.2
The nomination process is managed by Nina Toialievna
Maigulakova, Director, Central State Archives of Audiovisual Media of the Kyrgyz Republic.
2.3
Address: 105 Toktogula Street, Bishkek 720040, Kyrgyzstan. Tel. (++996 312) 62 67 63, 62 67
61, E-mail: natcomunesco@intranet.kg, B.Amankanova@mail.ru
3
IDENTITY AND DESCRIPTION OF THE DOCUMENTARY HERITAGE
3.1
Historical Collection of Archive Sound Recordings (1903-1975) of the Story-teller Kenje-Kara
Archives No. 728
“Bylina about Semetey”, popular verses, performer Kenje-Kara, story-teller of the end of the 19th
and beginning of the 20th century, 1903, Kyrgyz language.
Bibliography:
V. Galitskiy, History of Pishpek Town 1878-1917, Frunze 1980.
V. Galitskiy, "Pictures and essays by B.V. Smirnov as an historical-ethnographical source of
information about the beginning of the 20th century, Academy of Science of the Kyrgyz SSR, vol.
11, 3rd edition, Frunze 1960.
Archives No. 1787
“Manas Is Going to the Great War”: Part of the Manas epic, popular verses, Manaschi performer,
National Artist of Kyrgyzstan, M. Musulmankulov, 1970, Kyrgyz language.
Archives No. 1 B 15
“Manas marries Kanykei”: Part of the Manas epic, popular verses, Manaschi performer, National
Artist of Kyrgyzstan, Sayakbai Karalaev, 1968, Kyrgyz language.
Archives No. 888
“Struggle of Almambet and Konurbai”: Part of the “Manas” epic, popular verses, Manaschi
performer, Shabai Azaz ulu, 1970, Kyrgyz language.
4
JUSTIFICATION FOR INCLUSION/ ASSESSMENT AGAINST CRITERIA
4.1
Audio record Archives No 728 is a copy of the original phonograph record held in Institute of
Russian literature, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation of the story Semetey performed by the
famous Kenje-Kara, one of the great traditional storytellers of the end of the 19th and beginning
of the 20th century, recorded by artist B.V. Smirnov in 1903 near Pishpek town. ). As Kyrgyzstan
and Russia are now not one country, time is needed to have the details. – in our Archive
4.2
These audio recordings of global heritage significance were recorded on ferromagnetic tape from
the original phonographic recordings in wax platen. As this media has a limited estimated life in
storage of approximately 20-30 years, these records are very vulnerable and should be
immediately migrated to a preservation quality digital carrier. They are a major testament to part
of the folklore of the world’s peoples and a record of a unique way of transmitting historical
events. They are a key primary source, reflecting the spirit of the time, and risk being lost both to
scientific researchers and to millions of listeners.
4.3
Criterion 1 – Time.
This documentary heritage is a unique record of the period of the original creation of these stories
from the 10th to the 12th century AD and their elaborations through later centuries.
Criterion 2 – Place.
This documentary heritage is a unique record reflecting the relationship between people and land
from the Altai (in today’s Russian Federation) to the Aral Sea and their relationships with their
neighbours and other peoples beyond, including the Bukharans, the Uighurs, the Kalmyks and the
Chinese.
Criterion 3 – People.
This documentary heritage is a unique record of the uniting of various Kyrgyz tribes in this
territory, their culture and their interrelationships and is generally representative of Turkic culture
across the region.
Criterion 4 – Subject and the Theme.
This documentary heritage is a record of the moving, uniting, interaction and cultures of different
peoples in and bordering Central Asia from the 9th-20th centuries who had a significant impact on
both regional and world history.
5.
FORMATION
5.1
The owner of this documentary heritage is the Central State Archives of Audiovisual Media of the
Kyrgyz Republic.
5.2
The keeper of the documentary heritage is the Central State Archives of Audiovisual Media of the
Kyrgyz Republic.
5.3
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
6
MANAGEMENT PLAN
6.1
A management plan exists and the documents are preserved in a purpose-built storage room on
wooden shelves at reduced temperature and relative humidity levels with fire protection, but the
Central State Archives does not have the resources to preserve it properly for future generations.
7
CONSULTATION
7.1
Consultations were held with:



The owner is a public institution.
Access to these documents is not limited.
All rights to this documentary heritage are reserved.
The Central State Archives of Audiovisual Media of the Kyrgyz Republic, according to
the “Statute on the Central State Archives of Audiovisual Media of the Kyrgyz Republic”,
is custodian of this documentary heritage.
The National Memory of the World Programme Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic,
The UNESCO National Commission of the Kyrgyz Republic,
The National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic.
PART B – SUBSIDIARY INFORMATION
8
ASSESSMENT OF RISK
8.1
The Central State Archives takes measures to maintain the safety of the audio records. As the
carrier (ferromagnetic tape) is short-lived the policy is to have the records periodically rerecorded. However, because of the lack of resources to acquire new tapes, this work was stopped
and now there is a real threat that this unique audio record will be lost.
9
ASSESSMENT OF PRESERVATION
9.1
This unique documentary heritage is kept in a purpose-built storage room on wooden shelves at
reduced temperature and relative humidity levels with fire protection. As well as being stored in
this regime restoration and proactive preventive measures are taken by re-reeling the
ferromagnetic tape carrier and by cleaning with tape restoration equipment.
PART C - LODGEMENT
This nomination is lodged by:
MAIGULAKOVA NINA TOIALYEVNA
Director,
Central State Archives of Audiovisual Media of the Kyrgyz Republic
_______________________
AMANKANOVA BEGAYIM HALILOVNA
Assistant Director
Central State Archives of Audiovisual Media of the Kyrgyz Republic
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