The historical-cultural complex of Abay «Zhidebai -Borili»

The memorial complex Abay-Shakarim was opened in honor of the 150th anniversary of Abay. The mausoleum of Abai-Shakarim is an architectural monument built in 1996.

The 150th anniversary of Abai Hakim in the Zhidebay settlement of the Abai district was set on the eve of the celebration of UNESCO ’s world day.

Architects B. Ibraev, S. Agyntaev and A. Karpikov along with the a designer T. Erzhigitov and artist K. Altynbekov contributed to the construction of the complex. The first peak is the Abai Tower (38.5 m high) and the second is the Shakarim Tower (35 meters). In addition, the Museum of Cultural History of Central Asia, with a diameter of 36 meters, a hospitable amphitheater and a mosque were built here. Together with Abai, his brother Ospan, and the closest women of Abay: his mother Ulzhan and grandmother Zere were also buried here.

The mausoleums are tower-shaped, and differ from each other by the facade and the completion of the domes. The total composition is completed by four corner towers. Memorial complex Abai-Shakarim is a unique object, both in terms of architectural design, and in its technical solution and execution. The creative heritage of the great Abai is the treasure of our people for centuries. The poetic world of Abay’s poetic world is very wide. Abai’s legacy is poetry, which was touched upon by the most pressing, most complex and important problems of public life in its time. His verses and sermons illustrate the truth of the life of the Kazakh people.

Abay was a great teacher of the nation, who opened the soul of the Kazakh people, deeply penetrating into the spiritual way of life, bringing the concept of modern adaptation, renewal of society, comparing society with foreign countries. Abay is a universal teacher. His Words of Wisdom translated into hundreds of languages went to across the globe. As a composer, he made a great contribution to the Kazakh musical culture. Abay’s works were translated into nine languages around the world.

Shakarim Kudaiberdiuly (1858–1931) was poet, writer, philosopher, historian-chronicler and composer. He is a contemporary and nephew of Abai and a follower of the realistic literary traditions that he founded. At one time he was one of the most educated among the Kazakhs. He fluently spoke Arabic, Persian, Turkish and Russian. Shakarim was a philosopher with a deep knowledge of religious doctrine. He is a philosopher who developed philosophical ideas of not only the Kazakh nation, but also all neighboring Turkic nations.

In many of Shakarim’s poems there are important philosophical themes that characterize human emotions and inner feelings. He read and studied the works of such philosophers as Aristotle, Ibn Sina, Ulugbek, Kant, Plato, Socrates and Abunasir Al-Farabi.

In the lyrics of S. Kudaiberdiuly, tense and restless, there is a feeling of a general unsettled world, fragility and instability of human relations. This is not surprising, considering that the author had experienced increase in the conflict, the instability of life and the gradual disintegration in its own harmonious, albeit belated patriarchal foundations.