The year 2021 marks the 175th anniversary of Zhambyl Zhabayev, a Kazakh traditional folk singer – akyn.
As a boy, Zhambyl learned how to play the dombyra (traditional Kazakh string musical instrument) and at the age of 14 left his home to become an akyn. He learned the art of improvisation from the legendary akyn Suiinbai Aronuly. Zhambyl sang exclusively in the Kazakh language.
Participating in the aityses (contest centred on improvised oral poetry spoken or sung to the accompaniment of traditional musical instruments), Zhambyl became widely known already while being young when he was 16-17 years old. In his improvisations the young akyn touched upon the topical issues in the life of the Kazakh society, he told about the needs of the people, drew the pictures of lawlessness and called to fight for freedom. In his songs "I am a vigilant falcon, I am the melody of my country", "I am your Zhambyl" he appeals to the Kazakh people. He sings about the people, for the people, surrounded by the people. For many years the people admired Zhambyl, he was translated into many languages of the world.
Zhambyl Zhabayev made a great contribution into the development of the poetical art of the Kazakh people, he dedicated his life to the advancement of the eternal all-human values, the admiration of good, justice, the upbringing of patriotism. Many texts of his song competitions are lost. By his own recollections and by the recollections of his pupils, a number of the texts from the aityses with the participation of Zhambyl later were recovered. Several poems were recorded, including “Zildy buiryk” (Stern order). His songs became part of the new everyday life of the Kazakh village.
Zhambyl Zhabayev died on June 22, 1945, eight months before his 100th birthday. He was buried in Alma-Ata in a garden which he cultivated with his own hands.