In chronological order, the stories of each manaschy are presented, supplemented by poems written by Rysbay Isakov. This manaschy is listed in the Guinness Book of Records for his outstanding ability to recount the epic "Manas" for 124 hours.
According to Nurbek Talantbekov, manaschy and the art of storytelling are not just entertainment, but a profound cultural practice rooted in history.
“The art of manaschy and the world of ‘Manas’ possess unique qualities that have yet to receive proper scientific study. This is evident from the myths preserved in history and the events we observe. The epic ‘Manas’ inspired heroes to defend the people and the land, and the influence of the words of manaschy leaves no one indifferent. Therefore, individuals like Baytik and people with inner strength, like Kydyr Ake, considered it their honor to support and develop storytelling,” he noted.
It is unknown how many names of manaschy have survived to our time and how many remain in the shadows of history. The public still does not know exactly how many manaschy exist.
The author emphasizes that their important mission is to convey the names of all manaschy to the people, and the list will be expanded in future editions.
The new AKIpress section "The History of Manaschy" is dedicated to the life and work of 150 manaschy.
Syidyk uulu Chal (1892-?)
Chal Syidyk uulu, an outstanding southern manaschy, was born in the Nookat district. He was a student of the famous manaschy Choodan, who passed on lessons from Shaiymardan (1850–1911). Chal not only performed "Manas," but also other epics with high mastery. During the Soviet period, he worked on a collective farm, taking care of horses and stallions.
Folklorist Kayum Miftakov recorded from Chal such fragments of "Manas" as "The Birth and Childhood of Manas," "The Marriage of Manas," "The Battle of Manas with Kökchö," as well as several versions of the poem "Myryza uulu." Researchers note that these recordings are similar to those recorded by academician V. V. Radlov in the 19th century, as well as to the versions of Saza uulu Bagysh and Sagynbay Orozbak.
A version of Chal is preserved in the manuscripts of the National Academy of Sciences, which tells how in his dream, Chiyrdy was eaten by a white apple, and it was from this that Manas was born; about how powerful alpsary-kush and dark forces were sent to fight him at his birth; about how Manas killed this bird using an arrow made from a tree branch—such details are rarely found in similar versions. As Nasir Iskender uulu claims, Chal spoke of Manas's enemies in Altai, which included Neskara, Zholoy, Nuuker, and the Uyghurs.
Another distinction is that in most versions, Manas wounds Kanikey with a spear, but in Chal's version, the wound is inflicted by Nakylay, and this conflict represents a dialogue, which is characteristic of the southern school of manaschy. When Kayum Miftakov visited Nookat and Alai, he noted that he had not heard either "Chong Kazat" or "Kichi Kazat" from other southern storytellers. Nevertheless, in Chal's version, there are lines that directly refer to "Chong Kazat."
