Säsän

a Bashkir singer and improviser of poetry. The säsän’s art originated in the remote past; before the development of a written language, it played an important social role. The säsän performed at public gatherings, praising heroes and castigating social vices.

After the October Revolution of 1917, the improvisations of the säsän became similar to written poetry. The compositions were written down, published, and studied. In 1943 the title of People’s Säsän of the Bashkir ASSR was created; it has been awarded to M. Burangulov, F. Davletshin, and S. Ismagilov.