Kazakh Musical Instruments Donated to Museum of Musical Instruments of Brussels

Brussels, June 29, 2021 – On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s independence and on the Eve of the Capital City Day, the nation’s of Kazakhstan to Belgium Margulan Baimukhan presented Kazakh musical instruments – dombra, kobyz, and sybyzgy – to the Museum of Musical Instruments in Brussels. The instruments came from the Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Kazakhstan.

Secretary of State for Economic Recovery and Scientific policy of Belgium, Mr. Thomas Dermine, the representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belgium, deputies of the Federal Parliament of Belgium, as well as representatives of the Brussels Art Palace «BOZAR» took part in the ceremony.

Ambassador Baimukhan underlined that the cooperation between Kazakhstan and Belgium has been dynamically developing in many areas, including cultural partnership.

Today, the collection of the Brussels Musical Instruments Museum includes about 10,000 musical instruments from Belgium and around the world. It represents one of the largest and richest collections in the world. From now on, the visitors to the museum can hear the sounds of dombra, kobyz, and sybyzgy.

Secretary of State Mr. Dermine, congratulating all Kazakhs on the 30th anniversary of the nation’s independence, expressed gratitude to the Kazakh side for its significant contribution to the musical heritage of the Kingdom of Belgium.

“The rich musical culture of Kazakhstan will now be available in Brussels. Dombyra, kobyz, and sybyzgy will be included in the list of the Royal Museums of Art and History of Belgium, and will also be available worldwide through the Museum’s online catalog and the international database of musical instruments of «MIMO», the Belgian Secretary of State said.

To demonstrate the sound of dombra to the participants, a kyui by Abdimomyn Zheldibai «Erke sylqym» was performed and the Embassy demonstrated a musical compilation with the music of kobyz and sybyzgy.

For reference: The Musical Instrument Museum of Brussels (MIM) was founded in 1876 and is part of the State Museum Complex of the Royal Museums of Art and History of Belgium.