📚 Meeting with the “Manas” Academy on the Oral Folk Art Section
On May 26, the Aigine CRC team met with the staff of the National Academy “Manas” to discuss the oral folk art and performing arts section of the intangible cultural heritage database. During the meeting, a preliminary expert review of the collected materials was conducted, and a presentation plan was discussed. It was agreed that the section will be presented in the first half of June. This section includes traditions of storytelling, songs, proverbs, legends, and other forms of oral artistry of the Kyrgyz people.

🌀 Work on the Crafts Database: Discussion on Personal Data and Metadata
On May 26, a meeting was held at the Aigine CRC office with the ICHCAP team (International Information and Networking Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage under the auspices of UNESCO), which is partnering with Aigine in developing the digital database on traditional crafts of Kyrgyzstan. The meeting focused on final steps for processing field materials collected across regions. Particular attention was given to the proper structuring of metadata to ensure the database is searchable and user-friendly. The issue of protecting the personal data of craft practitioners, whose profiles will be included on the platform, was also discussed.

🎶 Online Webinar on the Revival of Indigenous Musical Sound
Aigine CRC participated in the second webinar of the Pawanka Fund’s “Voices of Local Communities” series. The theme of the session was Aigine’s project on reviving the indigenous sound of Kyrgyz musical instruments — koñur ün, a deep and warm tone traditionally associated with the komuz and kyl kyyak. Masters, musicians, and educators took part in the project by conducting research, crafting new instruments, and teaching students. The webinar opened with a live ritual in which a teacher placed the mouthpiece of a komuz in her student’s mouth — a symbolic gesture of transmission and blessing.

✨ Presentation of the “Baldar Asmany” Book and Animated Film
On May 30, a special screening and book distribution event was held at Kindergarten No. 20 in Bishkek for the children’s book “Baldar Asmany”, created by Aigine CRC in collaboration with the “Jyldyz Sanak” initiative group. The book introduces children to traditional Kyrgyz knowledge about stars and planets through stories and fairy tales. The book was compiled by Abakir Kalybekov, a senior lecturer at Kyrgyz National University, and edited by journalist Shaakan Toktogul. Illustrations were created by a team of young artists led by Aliya Alisherova and Asel Kitayeva.
Note: Photos and videos taken during the kindergarten event will not be made publicly available due to the absence of written parental consent.