Akbutaev was born in 1970 in the Murghab district of Tajikistan. His wife, Taasilkhan Dyikanbaeva, was born in the same district in 1981. The couple has seven children — the oldest is 22 years old, and the youngest is only 2.5 years old.
Since childhood, Askarbek helped his mother with her crafts, which, according to him, laid the foundation for his talent. "This is probably a gift from God and my interest in this art. The craft is passed down from generation to generation, and my mother and grandmother were true masters," he shares.
The Akbutaev family is engaged in spinning sheep's wool and weaving, creating items such as "terme" and "kazhary." "We make yurt accessories, horse harnesses, wallets, and kurzhuns," the master explains.
Recently, Askarbek's wife won the "Kemenger" competition held in the Chui region. The jury was impressed by her craftsmanship and ancient relics, including vintage clothing and utensils. "We took first place. We have many heirloom items: horse harnesses, hunting gear such as a water jug, headgear, hairpins, as well as wooden items over 100 years old," he adds.
The family actively participates in exhibitions, including visiting the USA twice to showcase their products. In the future, Askarbek intends to pass on the art to his descendants and preserve it for future generations. In his free time, he works on new products, and his wife is also mastering this craft.
