On September 12, 2025, the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, together with the Turkic Academy, held an international conference entitled “The Great Poet and Thinker Abay: Spiritual Heritage and Continuity in the Turkic World”, dedicated to the 180th anniversary of the birth of Abay Kunanbayev. This large-scale event brought together leading scholars of the Turkic world and became an important milestone in comprehending the global significance of the great poet’s legacy.

The event was attended by President of the National Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan Akylbek Kuryzhbayev, President of the Turkic Academy Shahin Mustafayev, representatives of diplomatic missions and consulates of Turkic states, leading scholars in the fields of literature and linguistics, Abay scholars, as well as statesmen and public figures. During the conference, participants discussed the role of Abay’s works in bringing Turkic peoples closer together and the relevance of his heritage for modern times.

President of the National Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan Akylbek Kuryzhbayev emphasized that Abay’s legacy is a treasure for all humankind, while holding special importance in strengthening the spiritual continuity and cultural unity of the Turkic peoples. President of the Turkic Academy Shahin Mustafayev noted: “Abay’s legacy is a value not only for the Kazakh people, but for the entire Turkic civilization. The new publications of the Turkic Academy are both a tribute to the great thinker and an important step towards strengthening cultural unity and continuity in the Turkic world.”

Reports were delivered by Director of the “Abay Studies Center” at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Doctor of Philology, Professor Zhangara Dadebayev; Director of the A. Baitursynov Institute of Linguistics, Candidate of Philology Anar Fazylzhanova; Professor of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Doctor of Philology Kanseit Abdezuly; Senior Lecturer of Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory, Honored Figure of Kazakhstan Erkin Shukiman; Doctor of Philology, Professor Islam Zhemeney; and Expert of the Turkic Academy, Candidate of Philology Akedil Toyshanuly.

As part of the conference, the Turkic Academy presented valuable new publications, including the Azerbaijani translation of M. Auezov’s novel “Abay”, Abay Kunanbayev’s “Words of Edification” published in the common Turkic alphabet, as well as the Turkish translation of K. Mukhamedkhanov’s book “The Heirs of Abay.” These works are aimed at widely promoting the rich spiritual heritage of the great poet and further deepening cultural and spiritual ties among the Turkic peoples.

The international conference not only became a landmark event in honoring Abay’s heritage, the pinnacle of Kazakh literature, but also gave a new impetus to the development of scientific and cultural cooperation within the Turkic world.

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Abay’s heritage and the Turkic world: an international scientific conference was held