Materials
Videos
Aitysh/Aitys, art of improvisation
[
English
]
Country :
KazakhstanICH Domain :
Oral traditions and expressions, including language as a vehicle of the intangible cultural heritage, Performing Arts, Social practices, rituals, festive eventsDescription :
Aitys is a contest centred on improvised oral poetry spoken or sung to the accompaniment of traditional musical instruments – the Kazakh dombra. Two performers (akyns) compete with one other to improvise verses on topical themes in a battle of wits that alternates between humorous ripostes and penetrating philosophical reflections. During the competition, the performers sit opposite one another improvising a dialogue on topics chosen by the audience. The winner is the performer considered to have demonstrated the best musical skills, rhythm, originality, resourcefulness, wisdom and wit. The most meaningful and witty expressions often become popular sayings. The element is practiced on a variety of occasions, ranging from local festivities to nationwide events, where practitioners often use the contest to raise important social issues. Although it was traditionally performed only by men, many women now participate in Aitys and use the contest to express women’s aspirations and viewpoints.| Video Photographer | Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Place | Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan | File Size | |
| Definition | File Format | MP4 | |
| Copyrights | © Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 2013 |
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Information source :
