People's Artist of the Kyrgyz Republic Sabira Kumushalieva
Born in 1917 in the village of Tokoldosh. After finishing school, Sabira Kumushalieva studied in the senior preparatory course of the Frunze Pedagogical College, after which she began working as a teacher in a regular primary school. She first came to the theater and started getting involved in the stage at the age of 14. In 1934, she joined the troupe of the Kyrgyz Dramatic Theater and worked there until the end of her life. On stage, she created more than 120 vivid and colorful characters. She appeared in more than twenty films. Among them, the most memorable roles were the gossip in "Jamila" by Irina Poplavskaya (1969), the mother of Urkuia in "Bow to the Fire" by Tolomush Okeyev (1972), Karyz, the grandmother of the boy in the film by director Bolot Shamsheev "The White Steamboat" (1975), and Saykal in "Among People" by B. Shamsheev (1978). For the latter film, Sabira Kumushalieva received a diploma at the XII All-Union Film Festival in Ashgabat in 1979.
Her last role in cinema was that of a mother in the film "The Cry of the Migratory Bird" (1991) directed by Bakyt Karagulov. After that, she did not act in films anymore, but in her native Kyrgyz Dramatic Theater, Sabira, as she was also called, performed until the last days of her life.
Sabira Kumushalieva made a tremendous contribution to the development of theatrical art in the republic. The unforgettable images she created on the theater stage earned the love of the people and gained respect and praise.
For her significant contribution to the development of Kyrgyz culture, the laureate of international awards named after Muratbek Ryskulov, Tologon Aibergenov, and "Golden Bridge," Sabira Kumushalieva was awarded the high title of People's Artist and Hero of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Sabira Kumushalieva lived for 90 years and passed away on September 15, 2007. One of the streets in the residential area of the capital is named after her.
Awards and Titles
Order of the Badge of Honor (01.11.1958)
People's Artist of the Kirghiz SSR (1967)
Order of Friendship of Peoples (10.10.1990)
Hero of the Kyrgyz Republic (2000)
In 2008, a postage stamp of Kyrgyzstan was issued in honor of Kumushalieva.
Hero of the Kyrgyz Republic
