Akin-improviser, singer and storyteller K. Akiev was born on November 3, 1883, in the village of Kuljigach in what is now the Jumgal district of the Naryn region, into a poor family. His childhood and youth were spent in the Chatkaragay area of the Ketmen-Tube valley (Toktogul district).
From the age of 12, he worked as a laborer for local wealthy landowners and manaps. At lavish celebrations often organized by the rich, well-known akins-improvisers would perform, competing in aytysh (poetic duels). During these years, he attentively listened to and learned the songs of akins Eshmambet, Kalmyrza, and Djengidzhok. The great akyn Toktogul had a significant influence on his work; Kalyk recalled that he first met Toktogul when he was 13 years old.
By the age of 18, he began performing his own songs. Poverty and the demands of the wealthy forced Kalyk to flee repeatedly, first from Ketmen-Tube to Jumgal and then back again. During his second return to Ketmen-Tube (approximately 1902-1904), Kalyk met Toktogul again, and for 8 years he traveled with him across the Ketmen-Tube, Talas, Chuy, and Fergana valleys, performing for the people alongside his great teacher. Their collaborative works include the aytysh songs: "Salamdashtuu" ("Greeting"), "Karymshaktyndagy yir" ("Song sung at Karymshak"), "Anzhiyan tarabynda" ("In the region of Andijan"), and others. Kalyk actively performed for the people during the events of 1916, calling for freedom.
With the advent of Soviet power, Kalyk took an active part in building socialism in his homeland. He worked as the chairman of the village council. Composing songs about the achievements of the Great September, he traveled to villages singing them, urging the working masses to build a new life. In 1918-1919, he created songs such as "Zhakty tosup alaly" ("Let's meet well") and "Kytaydan kytkan tuugandarga" ("To relatives returning from China"), among others. In 1919, K. Akiev participated in the I Semirechensk Congress of Laborers in Almaty and addressed the delegates with a greeting. In 1920, he began working at the Kyrgyz Musical and Dramatic Studio, which had been established at that time, and in 1930 he moved to the Kyrgyz Drama Theater, and from 1936 he worked as a soloist-improviser at the Kyrgyz State Philharmonic.
Kalyk's works began appearing in the pages of the republic's periodicals starting in 1933, and in 1936, a poetic collection titled "Kalyktyn yrlary" ("Poems of Kalyk") was published. According to K. Akiev, the folk tale "Ach karyshkyr" ("The Hungry Wolf"), and the epic poems "Kurmanbek" and "Janush-Bayish" were recorded and published.
After Toktogul's death, K. Akiev dedicated much effort to collecting and publishing the poetic heritage of his great teacher.
People's Artist of the Kyrgyz SSR (1939).
Member of the USSR Union of Writers since 1938.
Awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor, the "Sign of Honor," the "For Labor Valor" medal, and Honorary Certificates from the Supreme Soviet of the Kyrgyz SSR.
SEPARATE PUBLICATIONS
In Kyrgyz
Kalyktyn yrlary. — Fr.: Kyrgyzmamabas, 1936. — 105 p. Poems of Kalyk.
Kalyktyn yrlary. — Fr.: Kyrgyzmamabas, 1938. — 61 p. Poems of Kalyk.
Kurmanbek: Poem. — Fr. — Kazan: 1938. — 155 p.
Ach karyshkyr: Jomok. — Fr.: Kyrgyzmamabas, 1939. — 24 p. The Hungry Wolf.
Janush-Bayish. — Fr.: Dyrgyzmamabas, 1939. — 288 p. Janush-Bayish.
Olbes baatyr: Jomok. — Fr.: Kyrgyzmamabas, 1940. — 22 p. The Immortal Hero.
Yrlary jana poemalar. — Fr. — Kazan: Kyrgyzmamabas, 1940. — 111 p. Poems and Epics.
Yrlary zhiyngy. — Fr.: Kyrgyzmamabas, 1948. — 55 p. Collection of Poems.
Yrlary zhiyngy. — Fr.: Kyrgyzmamabas, 1949. — 83 p. Collection of Poems.
Yrlary zhiyngy. — Fr.: Kyrgyzmamabas, 1950. — 124 p. Collection of Poems.
Tandalganyrlary. — Fr.: Kyrgyzmamabas, 1954. — 188 p. Selected Poems.
Kurmanbek: Heroic Epic. — Fr.: Kyrgyzmamabas, 1957. — 139 p.
Tandalganyrlary. — Fr.: Kyrgyzmamabas, 1958. — 287 p. Selected Poems.
Baskhan zhol. — Fr.: Kyrgyzmamabas, 1964. — 227 p. The Path Taken.
Tandalgany zhyldarinin bir tomduk zhiyngy. — Fr.: Kyrgyzstan, 1972. — 503 p. Selected Works in One Volume.
Ach karyshkyr: Jomok. — Fr.: Mektep, 1973. — 20 p. The Hungry Wolf.
Kulusun: Yrlary jana poema. — Fr.: Mektep, 1976. — 31 p.
Ach karyshkyr: Jomok. — Fr.: Mektep, 1982. — 23 p. The Hungry Wolf.
Baskhan zhol: Bayan. — Fr.: Kyrgyzstan, 1983. — 256 p. The Path Taken.
In Russian
Years of War: Poems and Epics about the Great Patriotic War. — Fr.: Kyrgyzgosizdat, 1960. — 120 p.
The Path Taken: Pages of Life. — Fr.: Kyrgyzstan, 1978. — 199 p.
The Hungry Wolf: Tale. — Fr.: Mektep, 1982. — 24 p.
The Hungry Wolf: Tale. — Fr.: Mektep, 1983. — 26 p.
TRANSLATIONS
In Fire: — Poems of Kyrgyz Poets Dedicated to the Great Patriotic War. — Fr.: Kyrgyzgosizdat, 1960. — 134 p.
