Frankfurt am Main Hosted Celebration of Abai’s 180th Anniversary and the 35th Anniversary of Kazakhstan’s Declaration of State Sovereignty

Frankfurt am Main, October 18, 2025 — A literary evening dedicated to Kazakh spiritual heritage and statehood was held at the Consulate General of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Titled "The Wisdom of Great Words", the event marked the 180th anniversary of the great thinker and poet Abai Kunanbaiuly, as well as the 35th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration on the State Sovereignty of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The evening aimed to highlight the depth of Kazakh literature, celebrate the richness of national spirituality, and offer a renewed perspective on the significance of Abai's legacy in laying the spiritual foundation of independent Kazakhstan. The event brought together public figures, scholars, writers, publishing leaders, and representatives of the Kazakh intelligentsia.

In his opening remarks, Consul General of Kazakhstan Taubaldy Umbetbayev emphasized the spiritual continuity between Abai’s worldview and Kazakhstan’s path to sovereignty. He was followed by Almaz Mirzakhmetov, an official representative of the Committee for Archives, Documentation, and Book Publishing under the Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan, and Adil Koitanov, Director of the National State Book Chamber of Kazakhstan, who also shared their reflections.

A thematic session titled “Writing and Publishing: New Horizons in Kazakh Literature” was held as part of the evening. Renowned academic, public figure, and scholar Orazaly Sabden delivered a keynote on the relevance of Abai’s legacy in modern Kazakh society.

Prominent Kazakh publishing houses — “Almatykitap”, “Atamura”, “Mektep”, “Arman-PV Baspasy”, “Mazmundama”, “Evero”, and “AmalBooks” — presented their latest publications and shared insights on current trends in Kazakh literature.

A notable highlight of the evening was the introduction of a multilingual edition of Abai’s Words of Edification, now available in seven languages — a testament to the global reach of Kazakhstan’s spiritual values. The project was presented by Kazakh language instructor Gulmira Amandykova, whose efforts were warmly received by the audience.

Guests were also shown a video excerpt from the third session of the National Kurultai, held on March 15, 2024, in Atyrau. In the featured interview, academic Orazaly Sabden shared profound reflections on Abai’s continued relevance in shaping national consciousness and his pivotal role in Kazakhstan’s ongoing process of spiritual renewal. Attendees listened with great interest and engaged deeply with the ideas presented.

Writers and publishing representatives donated selected works to the Consulate General’s library collection. This meaningful gesture supports the global dissemination of Kazakh literature and helps promote national culture beyond the country’s borders.

The evening concluded with an open exchange of ideas on the future of literature and publishing, fostering new creative collaborations.

"The Wisdom of Great Words" served not only as a tribute to the timeless legacy of Abai but also as a vivid cultural reflection of Kazakhstan’s sovereignty. This memorable gathering will be remembered as a spiritual platform dedicated to celebrating and promoting the treasures of Kazakh literary art.