South and Central ASIA KYRGYZSTAN

The recorded history of Kyrgyzstan stretches back thousands of years, to a time when Kyrgyz nomads roamed vast Central Asian lands and Kyrgyz warriors conquered and were conquered by people like the Mongols, the Uighur, and, in the 20th century, the Soviets. Kyrgyzstan became independent in 1991, allowing the Kyrgyz people the freedom to do things like explore their Islamic heritage, replace their president, then subsequently replace him.

The most important Kyrgyz “song” is the epic of Manas — at 500,000 verses, it is considered the longest epic poem ever. Manaschi are Kyrgyz storytellers who retell the tale. The best manashci not only know the verses back and forth and have mastered traditional cadences and rhythms, but they are adept improvisers and know how to work a crowd.

There are literally a million ways to retell the epic of Manas. In class our version introduces the hero of all heroes, his magestic, loyal horse, and his Oirat/Kalymk enemy.