The former Soviet Republic of Kazakhstan, located in Central Asia, vigorously develop culture in their own language.
The sun beats down mercilessly in the deserted center of the modern capital of Kazakhstan Astana. People find refuge from the heat in the shade of the Baiterek tower — a business card of the city.
Astana became capital of Kazakhstan 20 years ago. City center, located in the middle of the steppes of Central Asia, was built on empty place by the hands of world-renowned architects.
The country’s capital was moved from Alma-ATA, located at the southern borders, to the North, to Astana. The purpose of the transfer was to strengthen the national culture. Extensive Northern areas of the country have historically been under the influence of neighboring Russia.
Media of Kazakhstan has always been soaked in Russian pop culture. Recently, however, the culture of Kazakhstan has been strengthened in a variety of genres.
This is especially true in pop music. Like the architecture of Astana; it will be influenced by both East and West, and are characterized by originality and uniqueness.
Friends Arstan Sagintayev and Dalier Ramazanov spend their summer vacation, hanging out on the hot streets of the centre. They never think when they are asked about the most popular music.
“You know Q-pop? Still listen to it all,” says Sagintaev fluent English.
“The most popular band of Kazakhstan — Ninety One. All the girls always listen to her and dream about these musicians,” adds Ramazanov with a laugh.
The excitement of teenagers is reminiscent of the behavior of Korean adolescents
Q-pop — pop or Qazaq, the Kazakh version of who won the world Korean-ROR. Like its prototype, this energetic music that combines different genres, bright style of dress and provocative behavior.
Culture and South Korea the most is growing specifically among the Kazakh youth.
Youth group Ninety One, consisting of five boys, gave impetus to the direction of the Q-pop. Behind her in Kazakhstan for two years appeared the half-dozen bands and artists such directions.
Focused on adolescents Q-pop has a wide audience in social networks. A group of Ninety One, has created unprecedented excitement among teenagers.
The name of the band connects with the year Kazakhstan gained independence in 1991. Thus she proclaims “the absolute independence and freedom of his style and his works”.
Stunning and blur the line between the sexes style Q-pop caused the disapproval of many in Kazakhstan. However, the new and trendy pop genre says about the diversity of the Kazakh popular music.
Music channel carries a Patriotic mission
On the background of the rise of national music in 2014 was created by Gakku TV. This is the first music channel in Kazakhstan, which shows video clips only local artists.
Most of them performed in Kazakh. In fact, in bilingual Kazakhstan Kazakh language is increasingly replacing official use of Russian.
This is clearly seen in popular music.
“Now, even our Russian-speaking artists to write music in the Kazakh language. They know that the General public wants to listen to the Kazakh pop,” says General producer Gakku TV Timur Baimbetov.
In less than ten years, the number of music video in the Kazakh language has increased many times. According to Palymbetov growing competition improves product quality.
34-year-old professional music world remembers his youth. Then tape recorders were heard only Western music. Now millions of young Kazakhs proudly listen to music in their native language.
“Our goal is to return young people of the Kazakh music. Gradually this will happen,” smiles Timur Alimbetov with Gakku TV.
Against the “Russian-ness”
With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the share of the Russian population has fallen significantly, from half to one-third of the total population.
The influence of Russian culture in the former Soviet Republic is still very significant. Therefore, at the state level is of great importance for development of the Kazakh language, culture and the study of their own history.
One of the biggest projects is the translation of the Kazakh alphabet from Cyrillic to Latin alphabet by 2025. The second major event, which is taking place at the moment international exhibition in Astana.
Both ambitious project, as well as the transfer of the capital to Astana, are the initiative of President Nursultan Nazarbayev, the autocratic Manager of Kazakstan from the day of independence.
In Kazakhstan try to avoid confrontation, even though Russia’s influence is deliberately diminished. Major clashes are avoided, but the tension exists.
Kazakhstan does not want to annoy the neighbor in vain, because it has him close economic and political ties. Russia can put accusations of oppression of Russian-speaking minorities in order to interfere in the internal Affairs of Kazakhstan.
Its pop-culture increases self-esteem
As the development of their own culture in their native language, pop music plays an important role in strengthening the national identity of the young state.
Gakku TV producer Timur Baimbetov believes that music listening in the native language, forms the youth of Kazakhstan has a sense of pride for their country. At the same time the music in the Kazakh language contributes to the growth of national consciousness.
“We suffered from little brother syndrome, being a neighbor of Russia. We are accustomed to the fact that everything that comes from Russia is better than our own. Now we can compete in the field of music.”
The growth of competitiveness of Kazakh music speaks to the growing interest in other Central Asian countries. She began to listen in the neighboring Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.
This is a particular pride in the young state.
“For the love of the Fatherland is now often doing something dirty and arrogant. But it is a shame to listen to music in their own language, which like the others is so good for our country”, — said Timur Baimbetov.
