Kyrgyzstan

• © UNESCO
• The Art of Akyns, Kyrgyz Epic Tellers

Kyrgyzstan joined UNESCO on June 2, 1992.

Kyrgyzstan hosted International Conference “Eurasia in the 21st Century: Dialogue or Clash of Civilizations? (Issyk-Kul, June 2004). The country has also been involved in UNESCO’s project on eradicating poverty through social integration of marginalized homeless young people.

UNESCO and Kyrgyzstan joined forces to safeguard the Art of Akyns, Kyrgyz Epic Tellers, an ancient form of cultural expression of the nomadic Kyrgyz people. This art of storytelling that combines spirited singing, improvisation and musical composition was proclaimed a UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2003. A file was created, “Art of the Akyns-Kyrgyz Epic Tellers as Integral Part of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity”, which included fieldwork to collect oral creation of the Akyns epic tellers.

The country has two MAB Biosphere Reserves, Issyk Kul and Sary-Chelek.