Winners of the Talasbek Asemkulov award announced

Various competitions and major contests are held in the literary world to support writers and young artists. Among the most prestigious of these is the Talasbek Asemkulov Prize, named after the renowned Kazakh writer, screenwriter, composer, literary and music critic, and researcher of mythology, history, and ethnography. This traditional contest, organized to promote the works of this talented individual who mastered many branches of art and to support emerging talents, continued this year.

“The purpose of this award is to promote Talasbek’s legacy, which has become a significant phenomenon in Kazakh literature and culture. Currently, the award is given in two categories: ‘Talasbek Studies’ and ‘Best Literary Work.’ In the ‘Talasbek Studies’ category, each generation is encouraged to explore, understand, and critically analyze Talasbek’s works with a fresh perspective. In short, it is about uncovering the unexplored aspects of Talasbek. The ‘Best Literary Work’ category seeks to discover and support talented writers like Talasbek. The prize fund is modest, as it is organized by Talasbek Asemkulov’s wife, ethnographer-writer Zira Nauryzbayeva, and his students. Our ultimate dream is to elevate this award to the level of a Nobel Prize for Turkic peoples,” said poet and Talasbek’s student Yerbol Alshynbay, one of the contest’s main sponsors.

According to the main rules, writers can nominate themselves for the Talasbek Prize, or the organizers can select works published that year. There are no restrictions based on residence, age, citizenship, or membership in creative unions. The main reason for awarding the prize or the work’s merits is publicly stated. The author with the most votes from the judges receives the prize, and the decision is final.

This year’s contest saw not only writers but also composers competing. The final event, held at the National Academic Library, was hosted by composer Rustem Nurkenov. The evening was filled with literary and musical performances and free discussions. Composers who advanced to the second round performed live, judged by prominent musicians Sarsengali Zhuzbay and Ardabi Maulet.

“Tonight, Talasbek’s image is vividly before us. I am sure his spirit is here as well. When we remember Talasbek, words and music hold a special place. He mastered both arts. Talasbek’s style of playing the dombra is unique and cannot be replicated. His approach to music was not learned but inherited; his playing carried the style of ancient musicians. That unique style is gone with him,” said Sarsengali Zhuzbay.

The judges awarded first place to Ilyas Tursynbek from Almaty, second place to Arman Zhanibekov, also from Almaty, and third place to 7th-grade student Kairolla Sungkar from the capital. All winners received special diplomas and cash prizes.

“I studied under Bilal Iskakov, a master of sherpe (traditional dombra style), at school and conservatory. Sometimes, we would play Talasbek’s compositions in class. Last year, I played the ‘Sauga’ piece as transmitted by Talasbek Asemkulov and won first place at the Ketbuga competition. This further sparked my interest. Talasbek’s unique techniques with both left and right hands are rarely known among today’s musicians. I hope this competition grows in scale because more young people are discovering Talasbek. My goal now is to ensure that his compositions are preserved for future generations,” said Ilyas Tursynbek, the first-place winner of the 4th National Composers Competition named after Talasbek Asemkulov.

The "Best Literary Work" award went to poet Toktarali Tanzharyk for his poem “SEN OSY KALADA ZHURGEN SEKILDISIN” (“It feels like you are in this city”). According to the competition rules, the jury's comments on the winning works were also read aloud.

“Talasbek once said that a writer matures through four stages: 1. Poor and simple (easy), 2. Poor and complex, 3. Good and complex, 4. Good and simple (easy). Toktarali’s poem has reached this fourth stage, carrying the weight of a novel,” said writer and cultural scholar Zira Nauryzbayeva.

“I voted for Toktarali Tanzharyk’s poem ‘It Feels Like You Are in This City’ because it captures the lifestyle of Almaty’s creative community, the city’s atmosphere, the artist’s tragic perception of the world, and a secret love story, creating a mystical world. This poem can be considered a high-level example of poetry,” said writer and playwright Madina Omarova.

“Toktarali is a versatile writer who can work in various genres. His poetry is like a lush oasis in the desert—deeply layered and beautifully written. This poem invites contemplation, guiding the reader like a film reel, transforming global themes into verse. He questions and doubts his god, which makes his work both beautiful and profound,” said writer Sagadat Ordashеva.

Award-winning poet Toktarali Tanzharyk expressed his gratitude, stating that he greatly respects Talasbek Asemkulov’s work and that the award came as a pleasant surprise.

“Firstly, the establishment of the Talasbek Prize is very encouraging. Such awards are important because they are not influenced by state institutions or specific interest groups but are personal accolades. This is common in global literature. Secondly, Talasbek was a unique Kazakh writer, poet, and scholar whose multifaceted talent deserves much discussion. Receiving this prize was an unexpected joy for me. I didn’t enter the competition; the organizers selected one of my recent poems for the jury’s consideration. I happened to be in Astana for other reasons when they informed me about the award. It was truly a surprise, but I am genuinely happy because this is not just any award—it is the Talasbek Asemkulov Prize, which I regard as one of the highest honors,” said Toktarali Tanzharyk.

At the end of the evening, chief organizer Zira Nauryzbayeva presented the winners with an album of Talasbek Asemkulov’s compositions and thanked the students who have been actively promoting the musician-writer’s works. The audience also enjoyed archived videos of Talasbek’s performances and shared their thoughts on the event, expressing warm wishes.