16.12.2021

Dear compatriots!

Dear representatives and fans of Bakhshi art!

        

First of all, let me sincerely congratulate all of you on a wonderful event of international significance: on December 16 this year, the Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO included the art of bakhshi in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

This important news instills a sense of joy and pride in cultural figures, masters and young performers, fans of the bakhshi art, and our entire multinational people.

Such a high recognition is a tribute of respect of the international community to the ancient history and rich culture of Uzbekistan, the unique art of bakhshi, which has many creative schools and a glorious history of development.

Indeed, this beautiful, unique genre of oral folk art has been formed over the centuries. The art of bakhshi has always contributed to the strengthening of mutual understanding and harmony among the representatives of different nations and nationalities living on our land, and today it worthily serves this noble cause. The place and role of the bakhshis, akyns and jirovs (the folk poet and singer), who sing the ideas of goodness, are invaluable in educating the youth as harmoniously developed personalities in the spirit of devotion to Motherland, respect for national values, commitment to the ideas of justice and humanism.

As it is well-known, bakhshi must be both a talented poet and an inspired singer, skilled musician and actor, which requires not only skills and great creative potential, but also tireless work on oneself.

The land of Uzbekistan has brought up dozens of such unique masters as Ergash Jumanbulbul ogly, Fozilbakhshi, Islomshoir, Pulkansoir, Bola bakhshi Abdullaev, Shoberdy Boltaev, Boboraim Mamatmurodov, Abdunazar Poyonov, Qora bakhshi Umirov, Shomurod Togaev, Kodira bakhshi Rakhimov, Ziyodulla Islomov, Norbek bakhshi Abdullayev, Qalandar bakhshi Normetov, Abdukakhkhor and Abdumurod Rakhimov and many others. Their traditions have been continuing so far.

At present, it should be noted that out of more than 250 representatives of this art, 25 have been awarded the titles of «People’s Bakhshi of Uzbekistan» and «People’s Bakhshi of Karakalpakstan», one was awarded the Order of «Dustlik», eleven - the «Shukhrat» medal and two - the «Kelajak Bunyodkori» medal, seven received the «Nihol» award.

It should be noted that recent presidential and government decrees aimed at preserving and popularizing this ancient art in our country have opened a new page in its development. In particular, it became an honorable tradition in Uzbekistan to hold the International Bakhshi Art Festival every two years under the auspices of UNESCO. The first festival in Termez in April 2019 and the second one in Nukus in September this year awakened a considerable interest in the cultural circles of the region and the world.

At present, the international contests of bakhshi, akyns and narrators are regularly held in our country. The work has been put in place at specialized educational institutions to study the bakhshi skills to transfer this creative art to future generations. Most importantly, all of it pays off. In particular, the number of classes on the art of bakhshi in Uzbekistan has reached 115, more than 1.5 thousand gifted children study at them and 245 mentors teach.

       

Dear compatriots!

        

Our successes in developing the bakhshi art and their international recognition inspire us to achieve even higher goals. We will use the new opportunities to preserve, develop and popularize this unique cultural heritage, including full support for our bakhshis. Henceforth, the entire international community together with UNESCO will assist us in this direction.

Once again, I take this opportunity to cordially congratulate all of you, all our people on this historic event.

I wish our bakhshis, akyns and jirovs a creative success and good luck, further prosperity to their unique art.

 

Shavkat Mirziyoyev,

the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

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