Abai Quiz: Bringing the poet to a new generation

Kazakhstan marked the 180th anniversary of its national poet, philosopher, and cultural icon Abai Qunanbaiuly with ten days of celebrations – from literary readings and concerts to exhibitions and academic conferences. Among the many events honoring his legacy, one stood out for its scale, energy, and ability to make Abai feel alive for a new generation: on August 2, Semey hosted the largest quiz in Kazakhstan’s history, drawing 180 teams and more than 1,000 participants. The “Abai Quiz” earned a place in the Kazakhstan Records Book (KInES) – but the day was more than a numbers game. It was a rare fusion of intellectual challenge, cultural pride, and community spirit.

From the stage of the Abai Arena, bright lights swept across a sea of faces – high school students in crisp uniforms, civil servants in casual shirts, retirees with neatly folded score sheets. The hum of conversation faded as the first question flashed on the giant screen: “What is the name of Abai's first poem, written at the age of 10?” Pens scratched, brows furrowed, and somewhere in the back, a confident voice leaned in to whisper the answer to teammates.

From local idea to national record

For Kuanysh Moldakashov, a veteran of the local quiz scene, the idea had been simmering since early this year.

“We’ve been running Kazakh-language quizzes for about six years,” he recalled. “When we heard the 180th anniversary would be celebrated nationwide, we thought – why not set a record? Two years ago, Atyrau held a Nauryz quiz with over 1,000 people. We wanted to beat that. And what better occasion than Abai’s birthday?”

That the record was set in Semey was no coincidence. The city, cradle of Abai’s genius and a historic hub for the Alash movement, has long been a center of cultural and intellectual life. “It’s not just about numbers,” Kuanysh said. “Having the record here anchors it in a place that shaped Abai. It’s a point of pride for the whole region.”

The competition drew teams from ten regions, including Astana, Almaty, Shymkent, Mangystau, and Atyrau. Ages ranged from teenagers to seniors, united by curiosity and a love for their mother tongue. The seven rounds spanned Abai’s life, the Abai Zholy epic, and even global landmarks connected to the poet.

The question set was prepared by quiz author Merei Ermuqanov, who faced the challenge of balancing accessibility with depth. “Some questions demanded deep knowledge of Abai’s poetry and philosophy, others tested general erudition,” he said. “Every Kazakh should know this material – and a quiz is one of the most engaging ways to learn it.”

The winners

The grand prize of 1 million tenge went to Brainstorm (Astana), whose members combined sharp intellect with passion for Abai’s work. Second place was claimed by Almaty Mix (Almaty), and third by Turaqsiz Tirkéster (Semey). Additional awards recognized standout performances in various categories.

Akbota Imasheva, a member of the champion team and a seasoned quiz player with over 15 years’ experience, described the event as unlike anything she had attended: 

“I’ve taken part in international tournaments, but never in a quiz as large-scale or well-organized as this. It brought together Abai scholars and admirers from across the country under one roof. I grew up in a Russian-language school; I only learned a few of Abai’s poems and read some prose in Russian translation. When I saw the grand prize was 1 million tenge, I knew I had to prepare. Fortunately, I finally found time to read The Path of Abai and his collected works–and the doors to his world opened to me. The Russians call Pushkin nashe vsyo – ‘our everything.’ We can say the same about Abai Qunanbaiuly. His legacy is the priceless heritage of our nation.”

A format that brings Abai to life

The Abai Quiz united an unusually diverse crowd: seasoned quiz veterans and complete newcomers. For some, it was another stop on a long intellectual journey; for others, their first encounter with competitive trivia. Yet for both, it became a bridge to Abai’s legacy – a legacy they left the arena discussing, debating, and, in many cases, rediscovering.

In the weeks before the event, teams prepared like athletes before a championship – re-reading Kara Sozder, watching documentaries, sharing book recommendations, and even recruiting literature teachers and philologists to improve their odds. Demand for Abai scholars soared.
“We saw people scrambling to find philologists,” Kuanysh laughed. “That alone shows the cultural value of what we did.”

First-time player Serik Kabidollauly, a history teacher in his 40s, said:
“It’s not about memorizing poems. It’s about applying knowledge in real time, making connections you didn’t see before. I left with a completely new perspective on Abai’s works.”

Aqerke, a member of the AbaiIQ team from Semey and a regular in the Kazakh-language quiz scene, noted:

“This event aimed to expand our understanding of Abai – and of the people around him. Here we were competing against many others, young and old alike. I hope there will be more events like this. In the sixth and seventh rounds especially, there were questions we never expected – complex ones that surprised us and made us admire the depth of knowledge they revealed. It was a reminder that there’s always more to learn.”

For many, the quiz became a bridge between a 19th-century thinker and a generation raised on smartphones. Zere, a 16-year-old volunteer, put it simply:
“We study Abai in class, but here it felt different – like he was speaking directly to us through the questions. I learned about his life, the places he lived, the people he knew. Now I want to read more.”

Organizers say this is exactly why the format matters: it turns a monumental cultural figure into a living presence – someone young people can talk about at dinner tables, in classrooms, and even in the heat of competition.

A movement beyond one event

The Abai Quiz is part of a growing wave of Kazakh-language intellectual games. Once dominated by Russian-language formats, the trivia scene now boasts vibrant Kazakh leagues in cities like Almaty, Atyrau, Oral, and Kostanay, as well as in smaller towns.

According to Merei Ermuqanov, demand for Kazakh-language quizzes is steadily rising:
“In big cities like Astana, the level of players is very high, and we’ve helped shape that by running both public and closed games across the country. In smaller towns, quizzes aren’t yet part of everyday life, but interest is growing. We adapt difficulty to the audience, but the aim is always to make people think, surprise them, and inspire curiosity.”

While the number of Kazakh-language quizzes is still smaller than their Russian counterparts, Merei believes their quality is often higher:  “We’re seeing players from Russian-language games join Kazakh ones. There are many unexplored topics in our language, and we want to research and bring them to a wider audience.”

Kuanysh Moldakashov sees the trend as part of a broader cultural shift: “These days, big public events – from festivals to official ceremonies – often include a quiz. It’s a format that involves people as active participants, not just spectators. We’ve made it a tradition to hold major quizzes around national dates, and the Abai Quiz is part of that. This year alone, we’ve seen steady growth across seven or eight regions.”

Both organizers agree that these games go beyond entertainment – they sharpen critical thinking, improve information literacy, and strengthen the Kazakh language. But for the movement to thrive, they say, it needs a stronger pool of authors, better infrastructure, and at least partial financial backing.

Looking ahead

The organizers hope to make the Abai Quiz an annual tradition. “We might not gather 180 teams every year,” Kuanysh said, “but even 50 or 100 would keep it big. Imagine a tradition where every August, people come to Semey to honor Abai through knowledge.”

If that vision holds, the record set in 2024 will be remembered not as a peak, but as a starting point – the moment a 19th-century poet stepped into the 21st century, alive not in marble statues or dusty textbooks, but in the quick wit and eager pens of those racing to recall his words.