The book is organized chronologically, and the stories of each manaschy are supplemented with poems written by manaschy Rysbay Isakov, who is listed in the Guinness Book of Records for recounting the epic "Manas" for 124 hours.
According to Nurbek Talantbekov, the art of manaschy and the very nature of "Manas" represent something more than just entertainment or musical performance.
“The art of manaschy and the world of the epic possess unique properties that have not yet been fully studied by scholars. This is evident from the myths preserved in history and the events of which we are witnesses. The epic "Manas" inspired heroes to feats and to defend their people and land, and the influence of the words of manaschy was so great that individuals like Baytik, as well as strong-spirited people like Kydyr Ake, considered it an honor to support and develop storytelling,” he noted.
How many names of manaschy have been preserved to this day, and how many remain unknown? Even today, the public cannot accurately say how many manaschy exist.
The author emphasizes that their important task is to convey the names of all manaschy to the people, and this list will be expanded in future editions.
In the new section of AKIpress "Manaschy History," we will introduce readers to the life and work of each of the 150 manaschy.
Zhanybek (Zhumabek) uulu Aydar (1888-1936)
Aydar spent his life in the village of Sabay in the Alay district, where he was born and died. His uncle, the famous Chomo, was the catalyst for awakening his talent as a storyteller. Contemporaries recall that Aydar, like Chomo, knew and performed "Manas" up to the eighth generation, but unfortunately, his version of the epic was not recorded and has not survived.
