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From Askiya to Stand-up: Uzbek Stage Humor Through the AgesUzbek stage humour has evolved from askiya, verbal duels full of puns carrying up to four meanings at once, to modern stand-up in the bars of Tashkent. Yusufjon Shakarjanov established the stage tradition in the 1960s; Khozhiboy Tozhiboyev packed audiences at the Khalklar Dustligi Palace in the 1990s and 2000s, turning his observations into folk sayings; and Indira Miftakhova became the first female stand-up comedian performing in Uzbek in the 2020s. Between them lies an entire gallery of comedians, each with their own distinctive niche, from solo performers to sketch troupes that pack stadiums.Ezoza Akhmedova#Guide#Cultural Guide