Dombra Without Borders: How Kazakhstan Develops Creative Industries
Managing Director of the Creative Industries Development Fund Almas Sagynuly discussed the preservation of national culture in its modern sound on Jibek Joly radio. The focus was on the development of Kazakh music, the accessibility of national products and the role of innovation in preserving cultural heritage, inform.kz reports.
Ninety One Opened the Way for the Kazakh Language in Modern Music
According to Sagynuly, the turning point for Kazakh music was the emergence of the group Ninety One in 2014-2015. The band demonstrated that songs in the Kazakh language could sound in modern genres and find listeners. Although the new direction met resistance, today the Kazakh-language music scene brings together artists of different styles: Sadraddin, Aro, Arshat, Yenlik and Lily.
Look, we are doing this, and you can too
- that is how Sagynuly formulated the message the group passed on to young performers.
Systematising Kurmangazy's legacy
As part of its work on preserving musical heritage, the Fund turned its attention to the works of Kurmangazy Sagyrbayuly. Sagynuly noted that of the composer's more than 70 kuis, the wider audience remembers only a few. According to him, a complete systematised catalogue of his legacy is lacking.
Where do we find the other more than 70 kuis? There is no single catalogue, nothing has been brought into a system
- the guest of the programme said.
As part of the Kazakh Creative Fund, QazaqCreative Label was launched. An official page for Kurmangazy Sagyrbayuly was placed on digital platforms with 10 kuis performed on the two-stringed dombra without modern instrumental processing. Sagynuly cited the example of Mozart's page on global platforms, sitting alongside the pages of modern artists.
The dombra can be multicoloured
Discussing national symbols, Sagynuly named the dombra as one of Kazakhstan's main cultural brands. He proposed reconsidering the idea of what a traditional instrument should be like. According to him, the modern appearance of the dombra took shape as a result of historical changes and standardisation linked to adaptation for orchestral performance.
The dombra exists only here, and I think the dombra should be as varied as possible
- Sagynuly said, citing the example of the ukulele, which is produced in different colours and designs. He proposed applying a similar approach to the dombra: experimenting with decoration, creating instruments for children and using images of characters from Kazakh fairy tales. In his view, such an approach helps make the national instrument more attractive to new generations without abandoning tradition.
The price of national clothing and ethno-projects
Touching on the cost of items in the national style, Sagynuly acknowledged that Kazakhstani products can cost considerably more than equivalents from neighbouring countries. Among the reasons, he named the insufficiently developed local production of certain materials, including fabrics, which affect the final price of an item.
But that does not mean people do not support domestic production
- he stressed. In the speaker's view, manufacturers need to take account of the mass consumer's means and look for ways to reduce costs. He proposed separating design development from production itself: national patterns could be created in Kazakhstan, while sewing could be done abroad to make products affordable.
Creativity and the development of the industry
The programme touched on the question of artificial intelligence's influence on the creative industry. Sagynuly noted that one idea is not enough to develop the industry - it must be turned into a concrete project, responsibility must be taken on and work must be organised to realise the concept.
An idea is valuable, but realising an idea is even more valuable, and it requires great responsibility, the launching of production mechanisms
- he said. The Creative Industries Development Fund works on finding and systematising talent within the country.
Newsletter
A letter from the HD editors
Once a week, we send the best stories, events, and cultural discoveries from Central Asia.