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- Convenor:
-
Aijamal Sarybaeva
(American University of Central Asia)
Send message to Convenor
- Chair:
-
Duishon Shamatov
(Nazarbayev University)
- Discussants:
-
Daniyar Karabaev
(American University of Central Asia)
Jyldyz Bekbalaeva (American University of Central Asia)
Mukaram Toktogulova (AUCA)
- Formats:
- Roundtable
- Theme:
- History
- Location:
- Room 108
- Sessions:
- Saturday 25 June, -
Time zone: Asia/Tashkent
Short Abstract:
This roundtable offers a discussion on the current oral history research activities in Kyrgyzstan, brings different perspectives to teaching oral history, shares accomplishments and challenges of archiving oral histories, and future prospects of oral history as a discipline in Kyrgyzstan.
Long Abstract:
Once Paul Thompson, a well-known British sociologist and oral historian, said that “... oral history is as old as history itself. It was the first kind of history. And it is only quite recently that skill in handling oral evidence has ceased to be one of the marks of the great historian.” Indeed, oral history is the oldest type of historical examination and study that existed before the written word. This practice of oral history and oral literature has been central for the culture and history of Kyrgyzstan and identity of Kyrgyz people, as it was the only way of preserving and transmitting information from one generation to another for pre-literate nomadic Kyrgyz tribes. Oral history in Kyrgyzstan as a field of study is still in its infancy, even though this field is well-researched and developed in Western countries. There have been attempts to unravel oral histories of people in Kyrgyzstan by several scholars but there are still many gaps that remain to be filled in. This roundtable will be an attempt to hold a discussion on the current oral history research activities taking place in Kyrgyzstan, to bring different perspectives to a subject of teaching oral history, to share accomplishments and challenges of archiving and preserving oral histories, and future prospects of oral history as a discipline in Kyrgyzstan. This roundtable seeks to share the work of scholars in Kyrgyzstan as well as the progress and problems of oral history as a newly emerging discipline in Kyrgyzstan with the larger community of established scholars, independent researchers, students, and anyone interested in studying and promoting oral history.
The roundtable contributors will be sharing the following:
Mukaram Toktogulova will present her research on the lives and voices of female manaschis in Kyrgyzstan.
Jyldyz Bekbalaeva will discuss the development and problems of archiving and preserving oral history testimonies in Kyrgyzstan.
Aijamal Sarybaeva will talk about the challenges and achievements of teaching oral history in Kyrgyzstan.
Daniyar Karabaev will present the activities of the Central Asian Oral History Association and Center for Oral History in Liberal Arts and Sciences of AUCA.
Accepted contributions:
Session 1 Saturday 25 June, 2022, -Mukaram Toktogulova (AUCA) Gulzat Ibraeva (AUCA)
Contribution short abstract:
The contributor presents outcomes of her research on the lives and voices of female manaschis in Kyrgyzstan.
Contribution long abstract:
The contributor discusses invisibilities and struggles for recognition of female manaschis in Kyrgyz society. Although many papers have been written on epic tale singers, the life stories of female manaschis and their recitation practices has received little scholarly attention. The dominant views on epic reciters are based predominately on the experiences of male bards. A. Lord, who investigated European epic tale singers, identified three stages of becoming a bard: 1) Listening and absorbing, 2) individual practices, 3) first public performance. N. van der Heide supplemented Lord’s stages by highlighting the significance that blessing and vocation dreams play in becoming an epic reciter or manaschy. Notwithstanding the merits of their scholarship on the performative skills and spiritual connection of the male bards with their ancestors, both Lord and Heide have missed to recognize the specific requirements for female reciters. In a society where, traditional patriarchal norms are strong, female epic tellers need not only to master and improve their recitation skills but also to accept male dominance and to “bargain with patriarchy” (to borrow D. Kandioty’s terms), in order to be recognized as manaschy. The dicussant presents life stories of female manaschis, for data analysis recognition theory (A. Honneth) will be applied, the sources will be analyzed with regard to the key aspects of family support (“love field”) and “solidarity field” (A. Honneth). It will show how interactions between female manaschis, on the one hand, and male-dominated society (rights field), on the other, serve as a good example for “bargaining with patriarchy”. In particular, the paper reflects upon the role male members play in a society (father, husband, father -in -law, tribal man) in bestowing recognition upon female manaschilar.
Keywords: epic, epic reciter, female manaschi, recognition, bargaining with patriarchy.
Daniyar Karabaev (American University of Central Asia)
Contribution short abstract:
The Central Asian Oral History Association is independent and was created to bring together researchers of oral history and other interested parties with the aim of preserving the historical material of Central Asia and promoting oral history as a research method.
Contribution long abstract:
The Central Asian Oral History Association is independent and was created to bring together researchers of oral history and other interested parties with the aim of preserving the historical material of Central Asia and promoting oral history as a research method. We will present the first activities and experiences of the association, discuss and seek further possible ways for productive collaboration among Central Asian scholars and other interested scholars.
Tolgonai Kozhokanova (American University of Central Asia)
Contribution short abstract:
The proposed presentation will discuss preliminary findings about Pamirian Kyrgyz in Kyrgyzstan.The team recorded Pamirians' life stories and collected information about their opportunities and challenges.Oral histories, and memories attached to both lands: Mountainous Pamir and Kyrgyzstan.
Contribution long abstract:
The presentation discusses preliminary findings of the group project, that was conducted in 2021 by students of the Anthropology Program and AUCA staff. The project goal was to produce an ethnographic film about Pamirian Kyrgyz, who were resettled in Kyrgyzstan in 2020. The students recorded Pamirians' life stories and collected information about their everyday life, culture, education, and health problems. Based on the collected materials our team argues that Pamirians’ journey to Kyrgyzstan is not perceived by themselves as ‘returning to Homeland”. Instead, they have very complex, uncertain, sometimes conflicting feelings and emotions about the new place. Their oral histories, resettlement stories depict very deep, intimate emotions and memories attached to both lands: Mountainous Pamir and Kyrgyzstan. In Alai they see a big difference in the way of life, in people’s behavior, in cultural practices of the hosting compatriots, but, at the same time, they are very happy to recover connections with relatives, which were lost many years ago. They are aware of the benefits of the resettlement and mention with real satisfaction about health improvement and achievements of their children in education. They also tell about changes in their life and thank the government for providing housing, food, and livestock. However, they miss the windy, harsh mountains of Pamir and think that their life was more stable, predictable, well organized there. The presentation will highlight the following questions: 1) historical background 2) resettlement in Alai 3) problems in the new place 4) different visions on the resettlement of Pamirian Kyrgyz.