Akyev, Kalyk

Born 1883, in Kuldzhygach, now Dzhumgal Raion; died Nov. 3, 1953. Kirghiz akyn (folk poet and singer), and improvisor; a narrator of folk epics. People’s Artist of the Kirghiz SSR. Born to the family of a nomad livestock raiser.

At the age of 14, Akyev began composing songs about the bitter fate of his people. Akyev’s poetry was influenced by Toktogul Satylganov. Under Soviet power, Akyev glorified the creative work and the happy life of the reborn Kirghiz nation. There are transcriptions of his folk poems Kurmanbek (1938), Dzhanysh-Baiysh (1939), and Kedeikan (with T. Satylganov, 1938).