The book is organized chronologically, and the manaschy Rysbay Isakov added poems to each story, which gives the work additional value. By the way, he entered the Guinness Book of Records for his 124-hour interpretation of the epic "Manas."
Nurbek Talantbekov emphasized that manaschy is not just a form of art or an entertainment performance set to music.
“The art of manaschy and the world of 'Manas' possess unique properties that have not yet been fully studied. This is evident from the myths preserved in history, as well as from the events we have witnessed. The epic 'Manas' inspired heroes to great deeds in defense of the people and the land, and the influence of the words of manaschy is hard to overestimate. Therefore, such outstanding figures as Baytik, as well as strong-spirited individuals like Kydyr Ake, considered it their honor to support and develop storytelling,” he noted.
The historical memory of manaschy: how many of them have survived to this day, and how many have been unjustly forgotten? To date, the public does not have accurate information about the number of manaschy.
According to the author, their task is to preserve and pass on the names of all manaschy to the next generation. In future editions, the list will be updated.
As part of the new AKIpress column "The History of Manaschy," we will introduce readers to the life and work of each of the 150 manaschy.
Mamyt Uulu Törö (1884-?)
Törö Mamyt Uulu, an outstanding manaschy and improviser, was born in the village of Kyrgyz-Ata in the Nookat district. According to some sources, he first heard the epic "Manas" from his uncle, Kozhokul Akbay Uulu. His father, Mamyt Akbay Uulu, also knew and performed fragments of this epic.
Törö recalled: “At the age of twenty, I learned the epic from my uncle, who, in turn, had learned it from the Kazakhs of Arkalyk. This year marks 43 years since I have been telling 'Manas,' 'Semetey,' and 'Er Töshtük.'
The collector of folk folklore, Kayum Miftakov, highly praised the talent of Törö Mamyt Uulu, stating: “In the Nookat district, I have not encountered such an outstanding storyteller. He can confidently be called one of the greatest akyns to emerge from the south.”
Kayum Miftakov recorded several parts of the epic "Semetey" from Törö Mamyt Uulu, including "Kanykey's Escape from Talas," "Kanykey in Bukhara," "Childhood of Semetey," and "Semetey's Return to Talas."
Additionally, Ybyrayym Abdyrakman Uulu recorded excerpts from "Manas," and teacher K. Bakeev recorded a version of the episode "Kökötöy’s Feast." However, over time, these manuscripts disappeared and are no longer in the collection of the National Academy of Sciences of Kyrgyzstan.
About the manaschy Törö Mamyt Uulu and his performance of the epic, Kayum Miftakov noted: “His narrative style, intonation, and content are noticeably different from the style of the northern school of manaschy. Nevertheless, Mamyt Uulu does not divide the epic into 'Great Campaign' and 'Small Campaign,' as some others do. For him, Manas fights against the Chinese and dies in this battle.”
