Turan Tales

Episode 42: Why Central Asia still needs akyns - the poets who speak truth to power

This week, we discuss the craft of akyns and aitysh, their poetic duels. We look into the history of this art form, its historical functions, and how these have changed during the Soviet era and since the collapse of the USSR. We also examine the social significance of aitysh and the differences between traditional akyns and those who have turned to journalism. Joining us is Akylai Otkulbek kyzy, a Kyrgyz researcher who focuses on aitysh as a living civic and epistemological practice. She holds a MA degree in International Public Policy from the University of Tsukuba, Japan, and an MA from the OSCE Academy in Bishkek. Get full access to Turan Tales at turantales.substack.com/subscribe [https://turantales.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Episode 41: Hashish and survival in rural Kyrgyzstan

This week, we look at cannabis economy in Kyrgyzstan: how the harvesting began, who benefits from it, and how local authorities respond to the phenomenon. Is there any incentive in Kyrgyzstan to legalise the crop? Joining us is Gulzat Botoeva, Associate Professor of Criminology at Swansea University and an expert on illegal economies in Eurasia, including cannabis production in Kyrgyzstan. Get full access to Turan Tales at turantales.substack.com/subscribe [https://turantales.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Episode 40: Abdulla Qodiriy's "Bygone Days" and the fight for intellectual property rights

This week, we're joined by Mark Reese - translator of Abdulla Qodiriy's Bygone Days from Uzbek to English, academic and entrepreneur. We talk about the cultural and social significance of Bygone Days, the message it conveyed about the past, present, and future of the region, and the lessons we can draw from it today. We also discuss his early days as a Peace Corps volunteer in Uzbekistan, his love for Uzbek language and literature, what he thinks about Mirziyoyev’s reforms, and why he decided to fight for the rights to his translation in court. Get full access to Turan Tales at turantales.substack.com/subscribe [https://turantales.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Episode 39: What cinema can tell us about Central Asia

This week, we’re diving into the fascinating history of Central Asian cinema and the ways Central Asia and Central Asians have been portrayed in foreign films. We’ll explore colonial tropes in portrayals of the region during Soviet times, how these representations influenced Central Asians’ self-image, and how they changed after the fall of the Soviet Union. We’ll also talk about different waves in Central Asian cinema throughout the 20th century and into the present day. Joining us is the best possible person to discuss these issues: Assiya Issemberdiyeva. She is a Kazakh film critic and researcher currently completing her PhD at Queen Mary University of London, where her thesis examines representations of Central Asia in Soviet wartime cinema. Get full access to Turan Tales at turantales.substack.com/subscribe [https://turantales.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Iya’s lifelines: A Jewish journey to survival in Central Asia

In the 1940s, Tashkent became an unlikely centre of Yiddish culture as Eastern European Jews were evacuated to Soviet Central Asia during World War II. Yet the story has remained largely forgotten. Get full access to Turan Tales at turantales.substack.com/subscribe [https://turantales.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]