Houston Kyrgyz Community Enjoy Evening of Poetry Recitation and a Feature Film Viewing
A performance by Kyrgyz poet and songwriter Akbar Kubanychbekov and a film Viewing of one of the most-anticipated movies of the year make for a special evening for this local Houston community.
Kyrgyz aqyn (poet-singer) Akbar Kubanychbekov visited Houston on May 27 to read and perform poems and songs from his recent book, Mekenim, Saga Keldim (My homeland, I came for you). Photo Credit: Akbar Kubanychbekov
The Houston Kyrgyz Community held a special program on the evening of Monday, May 27th, at the Houston Raindrop Foundation, that brought together poetry and song recitation by Kyrgyz aqyn (poet-singer) Akbar Kubanychbekov and a viewing of Beyish, Enenin Tamanynda (Heaven is at a mother’s feet).
The program, celebrating the end of another academic school year for many of the community’s students and educators, began at 6 pm with readings of poetry and song performance by Akbar Kubanychbekov, who recently finished tour stopovers throughout Europe and other parts of the United States.
Kubanychbekov, who composed a string of popular hits in his native country of Kyrgyzstan, such as “Kechki Bishkek” (Bishkek evening) and “Omur” (Life), recited poems and songs from his 2024 publication, Mekenim, Saga Keldim (My homeland, I came for you).
Kubanychbekov received a standing ovation from the nearly 50 people who gather to see him after he performed his most-famous composition, Muras (Heritage) and after reading the soul-stirring, “Maktanym” (My pride). Both works celebrate the strength and resilience of the Kyrgyz centuries-old identity.
At the end of Kubanychbekov’s recitation and performance, Houston Kyrgyz Community baykeler (elder brothers) recognized members of the community with certificates for their dedication in helping build a strong community.
Afterwards, Ermek Nurbaev, founder of Kyrgyz Tamashow, a community of competing troupes vying for audience laughs, and of Murut Express in the US, introduced the evenings feature film viewing of Beyish.
The film, directed by Ruslan Akun and starring Emil Esenaliev and Anara Nazarkulova, premiered in March of this year at theaters across Kyrgyzstan. The year’s most-anticipated cinematic release follows the journey of Adyl, an intellectually disabled 35-year-old, and as he pulls his mother on a cart across Central Asia and much of the Gulf to perform Hajj.
The movie’s message of endurance for good struck a chord with the nearly 100 people in attendance. Saikal Dzakypova, a fellow Kyrgyz residing in Houston, attended the viewing. She spoke about the emotional impact of the movie. “I cried a lot, almost the entire movie, and today I had to wear sunglasses at work because of my swollen eyes,” she said.
For organizer Dilshad Anarbaev, the film’s message summed up the community’s growth during the last year, from around 75 people to nearly 250. “Allah will guide you, people,” Anarbaev said, adding “everything around will be much easier when you 100 percent trust. Tawakkul [Arabic, meaning endurance with patience] with one word.”