The results of the Republican lullaby song contest have been announced in Bishkek — the jury identified the top 15.
The event gathered women from seven regions of the republic to revive forgotten melodies and songs.
Some participants of the contest, organized by the international public fund "Rosa Otunbayeva Initiative," performed well-known folk compositions, while others sang their own original songs. The Sputnik Kyrgyzstan agency invited the winners to its studio to listen to the lullabies performed by them.
The first place in the contest was taken by Kanyshai Kaparova, a kindergarten teacher from the Talas region, who received a trip to Turkey. Although the lullaby was not written by her, her heartfelt performance touched all the listeners.
“Lullabies should be sung with great love for the child. I have two children, and I often sang them the composition 'Balama' by Esengul Ibraev. It’s not necessary to know all the words — it’s enough to perform the favorite lines very tenderly,” said Kaparova.
The second place was taken by Gulzhan Musagalieva, a pediatrician from the Jety-Oguz district of the Issyk-Kul region and mother of five children.
“Lullabies should be sung even before the child is born, as upbringing begins when the baby is in the mother’s womb. If women cannot sing themselves, they should at least record lullabies on their phones and play them for their children before sleep. I often give this advice to young mothers,” explained Musagalieva.
Another participant of the contest, a cultural center worker from the Ak-Tala district of the Naryn region, Yryskul Bolotova, noted that lullabies not only help in raising children but also develop the creative abilities of mothers.
“I often sang lullabies to my children, and my voice improved,” she admitted.
Writer Topchugul Shaidullaeva also believes that lullabies play an important role in raising children.
“Today, not everyone sings lullabies to their little ones. Many simply do not know how or underestimate their significance. But specialists say that infants need lullabies. These songs bring mother and child closer together and also reveal the creative abilities of women. A child who listens to lullabies develops speech and musical ear faster, and sleeps soundly and peacefully,” said Shaidullaeva.
Gulzhan Musagalieva shared the second place in the contest with ethnographer Aymkan Kenzheeva. The third place was taken by akyn Guljamila Shakirova, as well as akyn and playwright Zhenishkul Ozubekova.