From 13th to 17th November, the eighth Open Eurasian Literary Festival and Book Forum (OEBF 2019) was held in Brussels (Belgium). Open Eurasia is an international initiative that for the eighth year brings together creative people from all over the world – writers, poets, translators, artists and other talented people. This year, festival guests represented […]
Category Archives: Protected Content
THE RESULTS OF THE THIRD EURASIAN CULTURE WEEK IN LONDON-2019
From October 1st to 6th 2019, Great Britain, attracted artists, artisans, writers, filmmakers and art-lovers to its capital. Attendees enjoyed the creativity and culture of the Eurasian region through exhibitions, films, and creative meetings. Eurasian Culture Week was organised by the Eurasian Creative Guild (London), with the support of Premiere Cinemas Romford, The Mercury Shopping […]
TEDX LAMBETH DEBUTS WITH SOVIET THEMES
TEDxLambeth officially debuted on Friday 11th October 2019 at the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) in London, UK, attracting 70 attendees from all over the globe including New York, Trondheim and Almaty. A year in the making, this gathering brought together 12 remarkable speakers and performers, not to mention […]
MOLDOVAN LITERATURE COMES OF AGE
By profession, Ludmila Dubcovetcaia is a doctor working in the Department of Immunology of the Municipal Dermatovenerological Dispensary of Chisinau. However as a part time writer she strives to reach out and touch the hearts of others. If her poem or story stirs someone’s soul, then she is fulfilling her creative mission – which is […]
THE BRITISH MAP OF “RUSSIAN” PLACES
The map of Russian places in Great Britain, originally developed on the basis of the free Google Maps service in 2015 for the website of the Russian Embassy in London, has now become the most complete and clear illustration of the deep historical ties between Russia and the United Kingdom. At the time of launch, […]
TAKING OSCAR WILDE TO KAZAKHSTAN
The Irish playwright Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) never visited Central Asia, but given how he revelled in the American Wild West, with all its raw edges, I suspect he would similarly have loved the “new frontier” atmosphere of the steppes of Kazakhstan. However, that was not why I was invited to Almaty and Taras, to talk […]
THE SOFT POWER OF EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE BETWEEN CENTRAL ASIA AND THE WORLD
Don’t underestimate the potency of soft power grounded in education and people-to-people contact. Both are the backbone of deepened relationships, and the global community needs to invest in strengthening those ties with the Central Asia region. Soft power is an axiom of international relations and multilateral ties. Within this framework, education and research is a […]
UNVEILING THE DARK SECRETS OF THE GULAG
INTERVIEW: ROMAN ROMANOV, DIRECTOR OF THE GULAG HISTORY MUSEUM, MOSCOW The GULAG History Museum in Moscow, Russia, covers one of the darkest eras in human history. The GULAG – the acronym for the Russian translation of ‘Chief Administration of Corrective Labour Camps and Colonies’ – best embodies the repression of the Soviet system in […]
MUSICAL HERITAGE OF TURKIC SPEAKING PEOPLE IN THE MODERN WORLD
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NEW ICTM STUDY GROUP The ICTM Study Group on “Music of the Turkic-speaking world” was established in 2006 at the Music Department, SOAS, University of London. This Study Group is dedicated to the practice, documentation, preservation, and dissemination of traditional music and dance as found throughout the wide area of the […]
THE RAPID RISE OF TOURISM IN UZBEKISTAN
I remember the first time I entered Uzbekistan, more than a decade ago. My car, an already rather battered Isuzu Trooper, broke down in the no man’s land between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, and had to be push started to make it across the border. It wasn’t an auspicious start. With a trio of friends, I […]
TOURISM ON THE GREAT SILK ROAD: VIEWS ON KAZAKHSTAN
The recent international tourist forum “Ulytau-2019” in Nursultan City attracted participants from more than 30 countries, including the UK, USA, Italy, France and others. President Kasym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan announced that the government of the country would continue putting special attention and billions of dollars into promoting his country as a major tourist destination. Indeed, […]
BUSINESS IN CENTRAL ASIA: HOW TO COVER 20 YEARS’ GROUND IN TWO YEARS
SAIDMUROD DAVLATOV Business mentor, owner and co-owner of 23 types of businesses, Davlatov has individually trained 292 entrepreneurs and coached 30 US dollar millionaires over the course of five years. The premier of the movie, The Mentor is set to be held in Moscow in 2020. The plot is quite simple and is based on […]
THE DEVELOPMENTAL JOURNEY OF THE FIVE STANS POST-SOVIET INDEPENDENCE
A brief analysis of overseas development assistance to the Central Asian Republics. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, abrupt national independence incited a sharp rise in poverty, inequality, and the disintegration of public services across Central Asia. A multitude of development challenges lay ahead for the five Stans: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and […]
PUSHING THROUGH UZBEKISTAN’S NEW REFORMS INTERVIEW: AKTAM KHAITOV
Aktam Khaitov has held many roles in Uzbek politics. Currently the Leader of the Uzbekistan Liberal Democrat Party, he cut his teeth in several previous government roles as Minister of Employment and Labour Relations and General Director of the Uzbek Agency of Standardisation, Metrology and Certification (Uzstandard). Uzbekistan has changed significantly since the death of […]
FIRST ECG FILM FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS NEW TALENT
From 6th to 10th June 2019, Premiere Cinemas in Romford, London became the centre of attention for directors, producers, actors and designers from Eurasian countries. As part of the third ‘Romford Film Festival’, for the first time, the ‘ECG Eurasian Film Festival’ (London) featured alongside it as a contributing partner. Founded in 2017 by British […]
“VIKING EXTRAORDINAIRE” – Sölvi Fannar
“Viking Extraordinaire”, Sölvi Fannar, doesn’t believe in following just one career path, in fact he has actively pursued several. He has acted in films, played music professionally, modelled, been a sports athlete, dabbled in poetry, and even spent time as a health professional. Recently, he is better known for his work in films, especially working […]
LOST ENLIGHTENMENT: THE GOLDEN AGE OF CENTRAL ASIA
The problem of distorting general history, a departure from the principle of objectivity in compiling history textbooks, and the lack of holistic basic research on the history of culture and science of Central Asia has long been troubling many historians, scholars, scientists and other representatives of the intellectuals. Scientists and historians of the Central Asian […]
KAZAKH ALASKA
The territory of Ile in Xinjiang was occupied by Russian troops in 1871. After ten years, in the year 1881-82, the Ile area was returned to China. For the second time (after Alaska) the Russian Empire refused the almost-conquered territory that was lying at its feet like a ripe melon … Ile area Numerous rivers, […]
THE LIFE AND ART OF MARC CHAGALL
Born in Belarus, Marc Chagall is a talented painter, a bright art practitioner of the avant-garde of the twentieth century who took over the world with his unique style and special outlook on life. Chagall is one of the few artists who formed a whole era in art. It is hard to name a person […]
FROM SAINT-LIGUORI TO NUR-SULTAN
After meeting eight young Kazakhs at the International Olympiads of Linguistics, I decided to fly from Canada to see my friends again and at the same time, discover the land of the Kazakhs… My name is Nathan Samson, I am now 18 years old and I study Linguistics at the University of Ottawa. Last year, […]
ANIMATION IS KEY TO DEVELOPING EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
As many parents believe that watching cartoons is either harmful or not of much use, nowadays, it has become fashionable not to show them to children. This opinion, however, does not hold true; good animation can contribute to the formation of a child’s personality, because high-quality cartoons, as with books and movies, help to develop […]
DECONSTRUCTING TRADITION: THE ART OF FAIG AHMED
Faig Ahmed dismantles and reforms Azerbaijani traditions of carpet making, creating remarkable new works of contemporary art. Through his art practice he reconsiders these ancient crafts and their history by deconstructing both their physical form and their traditions, and questions the conventions associated with their craft by repositioning them in the contemporary art environment. From […]
CHINGIZ AITMATOV EXHIBITION IN NUR-SULTAN
On May 15th 2019, the House of Friendship in Nur-Sultan hosted an exhibition dedicated to Chingiz Aitmatov entitled Tales of the Mountains and Steppes. The event was initiated by the Kyrgyzstan-Astana Ethnocultural Association and supported by The Eurasian Creative Guild (London). The main guest of the evening was Rosetta Aitmatova, the younger sister of Chingiz […]
MAKING AFGHAN CHILDREN SMILE
Warakai is the daughter of Kharakai, the talking rabbit on the BBC radio who, during the brutal war of the 1990s, stole the hearts of Afghans. If I can say so, I knew her very well. And in case you haven’t heard, Warakai and I will co-present the new BBC Pashto children’s bedtime stories TV […]
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: ALMAZBEK ATAMBAYEV
Just hours before former President of Kyrgyzstan, Almazbek Atambayev, was arrested at his home in Bishkek on charges of corruption, Open Central Asia magazine completed an exclusive interview with the man once heralded as bringing a new dawn to the history of the country. In this frank and open interview, we get an insight into […]
OPEN EURASIA 2019 CONTEST ANNOUNCED!
Open Eurasia is an international creative competition, now in its eighth year, which brings together creative people from all over the world. Writers, poets, translators, illustrators, videographers and publicists will be competing for a number of awards with a total prixe fund of $31,000. The winners’ money will towards design and print costs for books […]
FESTIVAL OF EURASIAN FILMS WILL BE HELD IN LONDON
In June 2019, the Eurasian Creative Guild launches the first festival of Eurasian films in London, the ECG Film Festival, which will be held as part of the Romford Film Festival. ECG Film Festival is a platform to promote Eurasian region cinema, bringing it to the English-speaking world! The Festival will introduce those in the […]
ARTS IN DEFENCE OF BRANDS
For more than a quarter of a century, Belarus and the United Kingdom (UK) have successfully cooperated in the trade, economic, cultural, scientific, and humanitarian spheres. The promotion of Belarusian brands abroad is a strategic task for state bodies, enterprises, and non-profit organizations. Besides, the point is not in the products by Belarusian companies only. […]
KEEPING UP WITH THE TIMES!
The name, Rauza Yeraliyeva, has finally become a true discovery for the fine arts circles of Kazakhstan! It is surprising, perhaps, that the formation of her creative biography began only after an eighty-year threshold. All this time after receiving art education in her distant youth, she did not sit back, wholly devoting herself to her […]
BRITS NAMED INTERNATIONAL RESIDENCY ARTISTS IN AZERBAIJAN
Two British contemporary artists, Nicholas Joubinaux and Tim Ridley have been chosen to travel to Azerbaijan from the UK in April 2019 to create new artworks. Taking inspiration from the similarities and differences between the UK and Azerbaijan’s cultural heritage, the artists creative investigations have already started to take shape. Ridley’s ‘Parrots in the trees’ […]
WORLD MUSICAL HERITAGE IN THE HEART OF EURASIA
‘Don’t divide music into the serious and frivolous. Music can only be good or bad. You can compose a magnificent simple song and trashy opera.’ — Naum Shafer There is a city located in the centre of Eurasia, on the territory of Kazakhstan. The city is named Pavlodar. It was founded in 1721 in the […]
CULTURAL CROSSROADS: TWO WOMEN’S JOURNEY ALONG THE PAMIR HIGHWAY.
In July & August 2018, two British women Catherine & Hannah, undertook the 2500km drive, unaided, along the Pamir Highway, famously the 2nd highest road on Earth, reaching altitudes of 4500m and coursing through the heart of Central Asia. Their mission: to reach, live with and film the women living along it. During their time […]
SIBERIAN SPLENDOUR: A BRIEF TRIP TO LAKE BAIKAL
1 On the wild steppes of Transbaikalia, Where people dig for gold in the mountains, A vagrant, bemoaning his fate, Is wandering with a bag on his back. 2 He walks through the thick taiga, Where only a few birds sing, He carries a tin can on his side, His feet are strapped in dry […]
A GLIMPSE OF 2050 KYRGYZSTAN
On March 20th, at 8 o, clock in the morning, the huge aircraft landed at Manas airport after the journey of 30 minutes. Kyrgyzstan’s Manas Airline has started its direct flights from Kabul to Bishkek over the last couple of years but this was my first time travelling in a Kyrgyz airline, and I pretty […]
DISCOVER MAGNIFICENT GEORGIA!
THE WELCOME TO GEORGIA – NATIONAL TOURISM AWARDS Georgia is one of the most beautiful and ancient countries in the world, with its untouched nature, history, mountains and architecture. This small country is a real paradise for all kind of travellers throughout tthe whole year. Let Tbilisi be the starting point of your unforgettable journey. […]
INDEPENDENCE DAY OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS
The spirit of Soviet times? Look no further than the main Belarusian national celebration – Independence Day of the Republic of Belarus. The celebration falls on the 3rd of July due to the liberation of Minsk in 1944 from Fascist invaders. Why this date? In 1996 a referendum was conducted by the Belarusian president, Alexander […]
BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE – CAN YOU PUT A PRICE ON INSURANCE?
With its cost estimated to run into trillions of dollars and main developments spread over 68 countries in three continents, it is quite natural for China’s belt and road initiative to be in the spotlight of all participating countries and business sectors. Asia Insurance Review spoke with ECIS-focused Bermudian Insurance-Linked Securities (ILS) specialist Phoenix CRetro […]
A STRUGGLE FOR DEMOCRACY IN KYRGYZSTAN AND THE EURASIAN UNION
Over the past 27 years of independence, two colour revolutions have taken place in Kyrgyzstan, which as such can hardly be called, because a revolution is determined by a change in the political system but not by the overthrow of some political leaders in order to be replaced by others. Accumulated unsolved problems and mistakes […]
BEHIND THE DEVIL’S DANCE
Interview with award-winning author Hamid Ismailov Hamid Ismailov, is not an unknown figure in UK literary and broadcasting circles. Having worked with the BBC for many years to help bring Uzbek and Central Asian news to the fore, he is known for being a reflective and passionate supporter of bringing Central Asian authors to […]
VII Open Eurasian Literature Festival & Book Forum – 2018
The 7th Open Eurasian Literature Festival & Book Forum, dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the outstanding portrait painter and revolutionary theatrical decorator Leon Bakst, took place in Thailand from 23-27 November. Organized by the Eurasian Creative Guild (London) and the British publishing house Hertfordshire Press, the Open Eurasian Literature Festival & Book Forum (OEBF) […]
The Fourth Official Ceremony of the Welcome to Georgia!
National Tourism Awards On December 17, 2018 Rustaveli Theatre will host the most remarkable event of the Tourism and Hospitality industry of Georgia – the Fourth Official Ceremony of the Welcome to Georgia! National Tourism Awards. On the Awards Ceremony winners and finalists of 20 different nominations, out of more than 350 nominees will […]
ECG Chair Visits Kyrgyzstan
Over the past 5 years, I have edited some 26 works for Hertfordshire Press and the Eurasian Creative Guild, as well as a series of small epics published by the International University of Kyrgyzstan. The latter is the initiative of the indefatigable Professor Zina Karaeva who generously hosted my recent visit to Kyrgyzstan and meetings […]
ECG Vice-Chairman Addresses Houses of Parliament Event
The panel discussion for the evening was “How British Democracy Inspired the World” and was organised by Vesna Petkovic in the Parliament’s Jubilee Hall. British democracy, as we know it today, started in 1832 with the Reform Act of Parliament and was followed by The People’s Act in 1918 which enabled women to vote for […]
Dreams Come True!
Whether we want to strike globalisation or not, it will be a part of our everyday life, embracing our future generations. We cannot escape from it anywhere. It would not be wise to say that we do not accept it. This is our future destiny. Every one of us should strive to develop technological advances […]
Bukvar Slavic Primer Celebrates 400 Years Since First Edition
In late October London saw a series of events dedicated to the 400th anniversary of the first edition of the East Slavic Primer – Bukvar, with the participation of the Director of the National Libray of Belarus, Roman Motulskiy. Book culture in Belarus has a long history. The first library known to us on the […]
Bishkek Hosts Macbeth with a Twist
In March 2018 I was lucky enough to spend six extraordinary weeks in Kyrgyzstan directing the first ever Kyrgyz translation of Macbeth, translated from the Russian into Kyrgyz, at the state theatre in Bishkek. I was working with 30 Kyrgyz actors who spoke no English and I don’t speak Russian or Kyrgyz. To add to […]
KURASH – TASHKENT HOSTS INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT IN MEMORY OF ISLAM KARIMOV FOR THE PRIZE OF THE PRESIDENT OF UZBEKISTAN
Tashkent played host to a prestigious international Kurash tournament in September attracting athletes from across the globe to compete for $100 000 of prize money. Great Britain were represented by Neil Schofield and Paul Sawyer at this event which paid homage to the nation’s first President, the late Islam Karimov, whilst also celebrated the 20th […]
Original Family Owners to Finally Sell Unique 17-19th Century Turkic Collection
The tradition of private collecting has existed in Russia for centuries. Such donations and gifts helped to create the collections of many university cabinets and museums of the pre-Revolution Russian Empire. For example, the collection of the present-day National Library of the Republic of Tatarstan (Kazan) is based on the collection of Ivan Vtorov, a […]
A Celebration of Afghan Culture in London
On the 19th August, we saw a truly authentic reflection of vibrant Afghan culture. Singers and dancers brought the energy to Hounslow’s excitable residents whilst a range of international cuisines added to the festivities. A Taekwondo club, managed by two Afghan brothers, demonstrated the skill and discipline of their students, whilst fairground lights and Afghan […]
Kazakh Superstar Brings Sensational Show to London
The London DQ show is part of the Kazakh Culture Days in the UK, hosted by The Ministry of Culture and Sport of the Republic of Kazakhstan and supported by the Embassy of Kazakhstan in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Dimash Quadaibergen is an international, multiple award winning and world-famous Kazakh […]
The Ruzhansky Legends: Women in Belarusian Art and History
Ruzhany Castle, located in Brest region of Belarus, is currently under reconstruction. Earlier it was the residence of the potent dynasty of Sapieha, a castle whose beauty was compared to the French Versailles. Historical information states that the duke Jan Sapieha received the king of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Sigismund 1 the Old in Ruzhany. There […]
AFGHANISTAN LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
The South Asia and Middle East (SAME) Forum hosted a special session on the topic of ‘Afghanistan: Looking to the Future’ on the 25th October 2018 in the Houses of Commons. The discussion began with Mr Khalid Nadeem, the Chairman, highlighting the tragic death of Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi Arabian journalist, a point which was […]
The Global Silk Road: Building the Financial Pillars
The revitalisation of the Silk Road has been envisioned as a scheme, which would stimulate the free movement of people, goods and services from East Asia to Western Europe via Central Asia. The Central Asian leaders believe that it could stimulate economic growth in the region, the rise of small-and-medium enterprises (SME) and the creation […]
On the Rarity of Nuclear States
The proliferation of nuclear weapons is undoubtedly an acute problem in international politics today. Currently, there are nine states in possession of nuclear weapons: America, Russia, China, Britain, France, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel; while those capable of manufacturing at short notice are estimated to be around 30. This begs a significant question, indeed: […]
ECG members took part in events in Minsk, Belarus, on April 18th, 2018
Marat Akhmedjanov, the Vice Chairman of the ECG, and Elena Bezrukova, Founder and Director of the Elena Bezrukova Centre, a professional business-trainer, coach and practicing physiologist, along with other ECG members took part in a workshop entitled ‘Intellectual Product Commercialisation and Promotion.’ The participants of the workshop – the authors of many innovative projects, finalists […]
A Journey to the End of the World 1 st ECG Meeting in Yakutsk
Strangely enough, it is not the cold that hits me as I step out of Yakutsk airport onto the frozen snow trodden path to my taxi. The whole area is shrouded in a thick misty fog and the waiting row of cars all sit patiently with their engines humming and billowing exhausts. It doesn’t feel […]
Uzbekistan’s Zara King Gracefully Conquers MISS USSR UK 2018
MISS USSR UK is a fascinating show, with the contestants from all the different countries of the former Soviet Union, organised by Russian entrepreneur and founder, Julia Titova. The international beauty pageant MISS USSR UK, now in its sixth successive year, is gaining popularity more and more in London and beyond. After ten finalists competed […]
An Artist Who Draws Light Amir Shayesteh Tabar
When it comes to Persian culture, it is impossible not to mention the immortal names of great poets such as Rumi, Rudaki, Firdausi, Khayyam, Nizami and Hafiz. Persian poetry is the key to understand the culture of Iran, as it permeates all aspects of the life of the Iranians. And even in Persian fine arts, […]
Way to Yourself
The artist, Zhurkabayeva Guldana, is on the threshold of her first mature personal exhibition “WAY TO YOURSELF” that will be held at the Museum of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. This sums up the results of what has been done since her first personal exhibition of 2008. Since then the artist has […]
LITERATURE CHANGES THE WORLD FOR A BETTER LIFE!
A love of literature made me get involved with the challenging project of promoting Kazakh authors. The idea came to me 3 or 4 years ago and I started to be interested in different international literature contests in the world. I invested a lot of time and energy to reach my goal and find prospective […]
Welcome to Belarus: A Glance at Educational Opportunities
Many years have passed since the Republic of Belarus was considered to be on the outskirts of Russia and needed a special introduction. Nowadays Belarus is a dynamic, fast-growing country with cities of European format and an open visa-free policy. Every year the number of tourists increases; in 2017 Belarus was visited by more than […]
THE ENCHANTED WANDERER AVICENNA
There are only few people from the East who are unconditionally recognised by Europe. Avicenna takes the first place among these glorious people. Suffice to say that after the invention of a printing press, Avicenna’s Canon of Medicine became the first printed book after the Bible. APPRECIATED GENIUS We mostly know him as an outstanding […]
Tajikistan: Female Faces of Violent Extremism
Participation of women in jihadism is an intriguing subject. Here, ideology and emotions, rejection and expectation are intertwined, and personal circumstances and spiritual motives are often mingled together. Yet, a recent upward trend has been noticeable. In Tajikistan, women constitute some 20 percent of those who travelled to the Middle East to join Salafi jihadi […]
Cashing in on Kyrgyz Tourism. Room for Further Development?
Take it how you like but having been based in Kyrgyzstan for two years now as a freelance consultant completing evaluations of developmental projects I’ve seen tourists to the country come and go and have reflected on my own experiences in the process too. I originally herald from the historic city of York in the […]
BRITAIN AND TURKMENISTAN
I write this looking out over the foothills of the Kopet Dag, which are lightly frosted with snow, a week after the Turkmenistan UK Trade and Industry Council (TUKTIC) in London: a good time to reflect on the relationship between our two countries. TUKTIC alternates between Ashgabat and London. It takes place at approximately 18 […]
Užupis Republic? And where on earth is that?
A Look at the Unique Creative Environment of the Old Town of Vilnius Tomas Čepaitis has been an ECG member since 2017. He is an essayist, English translator, and speaker of Lithuanian, Polish and French languages. He is also the publisher of the “Glashatay Zarechiya” newspaper and the “Zarzecze” Publishing house in Vilnius, and has […]
WELCOME TO THE EURASIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY!
You may not have heard of it, but the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University has made significant advances for the years of educational activity. This national University of Kazakhstan puts its success down to fundamentally classical principles together with innovative footsteps. The reason for establishing this national university in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, was […]
The Strategic Importance of Central Asia for the U.S.A.
For the U.S., Central Asia is a place where challenges and opportunities meet. On the one hand, the region is prone to many of the problems the U.S. faces around the world: a resurgent Russia, an emboldened China, and the rise of Islamist extremism. On the other hand, there are many economic opportunities between the […]
FROM KABUL TO QUEENS, NY
As a women photographer, exploring the paths of the ancient Silk Road, I was far from home, feeling like a stranger. In May 2005, many foreigners were in Kabul, mostly NGO types, none of us were on vacation. With the lull in fighting, the occupied forces were nearly invisible, yet the tension on the street […]
Batya Raizel Bagully 16 years old, forward, California, USA.
Batya has been living in California since 10 months. At this age she was adopted by the wife of Raisel, so she turned out to be in the USA. Can you tell about your family? My family is very supportive of my decisions to play football in Kazakhstan. I have an older sister who attends […]
Cultural Differences
Just when her life felt right: new career, new home, new grandchildren, Janet Givens leaves it all behind and follows her new husband into the Peace Corps. Assigned to Kazakhstan, a Central Asian country finding its own way after generations under Soviet rule, Givens must also find a way to be in a world different […]
Belarus – US: Forging New Partnerships
The 25 years of diplomatic relations between Belarus and the United States have seen ups and downs. But we have always been mindful of the importance of maintaining good and fruitful relations with Washington. The United States became the second country in the world to establish diplomatic ties with Belarus, and back then it was […]
Gulsifat Shakhidi
“As Columbus once discovered America, today America opens the modern literature of Central Asia” In November 2017, at the 6th OEBF Festival in Stockholm, Tajik writer Gulsifat Shahidi received an honorary award. “For her personal contribution to the unification of the peoples of Eurasia through literature.” The attention of the guests of the festival was […]
Uyghurs: between China and Central Asia
It was March, and a whole neighbourhood on the outskirts of Almaty, Kazakhstan’s biggest city and former capital, was once again preparing for the spring festival of New Year. Men were handling outdoor tasks while women were chopping carrots for pilaf, the main dish of their Zoroastrian New Year celebration – Nowruz. The men and […]
To become a good friend – visit my home and try some of my bread!
Many people all over the world, including Turkmens, consider bread an essential and irreplaceable part of the diet. Bread contains numerous nutrients and useful bioactive substances, and many will regard a meal, whether ordinary, everyday fare or a festive dinner with sophisticated dishes and delicacies, as incomplete without bread. No wonder the proverbs state “no […]
Tajikistan and the United States of America: Gardening a Tree of Friendship
A message from H.E. Mr. Farhod SALIM, Ambassador of Tajikistan to the United States of America The Republic of Tajikistan and the United States of America celebrated the 25th anniversary of their bilateral relationship in 2016. The United States was among the first countries to recognize the independence of Tajikistan in 1991. Since the establishment […]
I see a light for my native cinema at the end of this dark period
INTERVIEW WITH Bolot Shamshiev Few will know much about the cinema in Kyrgyzstan. What currently hampers its development is never aired and never makes the top priority list of state and international organizations. But there is a cinema to note and so Open Central Asia decided to meet one of its prominent players, the People’s […]
KAZAKHSTAN: The quest for international recognition drives many emerging markets
WWW.OCAMAGAZINE.COM OCA#28 SPRING 2018 Text by Nick Kochan The quest for international recognition drives many emerging markets. Kazakhstan has undoubtedly been better at it than many. The country has spent great effort and money building up an image as a modern state whose leaders can sit at the top table with world leaders. This effort […]
The American View: EXPO-2017 People are the source of future energy
WWW.OCAMAGAZINE.COM OCA#28 SPRING 2018 USA EDITION Text by Maria Indina In the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, the international specialized exhibition “Expo-2017” has finished its work. It has continued for 3 months from June 10 to September 10. There were 115 countries and 22 international organizations who participated in the EXPO. The exhibition has been visited […]
ECG Goes Stateside
Recently, the vice-chairman of the Eurasian Creative Guild, Marat Akhmedjanov, returned from a tour of North America. He visited nine cities and held more than 60 meetings, thanks to which many new members joined the ECG; but, that is just the start, as many new opportunities and ideas have followed. OCA finds out more about […]
Animal Movies and Action Men
Interview with Hollywood Celebrity Monty Cox Cox is a veteran in the entertainment industry. He is an internationally recognized, award-winning, Exotic Animal Trainer, 2nd Unit Director, Stunt Co-ordinator, Actor and Stuntman. Monty is first ECG member in Hollywod. He grew up in a trailer court in Oakland, California and his father was a merchant […]
VI Open Eurasian Literature Festival & Book Forum Held in the Homeland of Alfred Nobel
The Sixth Open Eurasian book forum and literature festival became the most anticipated event of 2017 for representatives of the Eurasian region. The venue of the festival was chosen as Sweden – a country that is famous for its sights and its own extraordinary culture and traditions. Sweden is home to many famous writers such […]
A Sparkling Success “I love pearls for their colour and lustre and they are very tactile”
In an interview with OCA magazine, jeweller Gulsara Davis, a linguist by education, but according to her nature a creative personality, tells of her life in London, to where she moved from Bishkek a couple of years ago and how she is fascinated by the creation of pearl jewellery. OCA: Tell us a little about […]
Bonding for change and functionality: Water users of Turkmenistan
How much would you charge a neighbour for access to water? How many volunteers can you gather to clean up a dam? Who will get access to the biggest water well in the middle of the desert? These are the questions on the daily agenda of the farmers, land lease holders, and cattle breeders of […]
Azat Akimbek: Art Collector, Antiques Expert and Philanthropist
Azat Akimbek is a distinguished expert in art and antiques and a well-known philanthropist in Kazakhstan. He is renowned for his unique collections of antiques from Central Asian, Caucasian and Russian heritage. Azat holds a special award ‘The Honorary Arts Worker of the Republic of Kazakhstan’. In 2011, Akimbek was awarded the ‘Barys’ State Order […]
Warwick Central Asia Forum
By showcasing the cultural, political and economic dynamism of this rapidly-developing region, the Forum hopes to spark interest amongst novices to the region, whilst enhancing the knowledge of experts. Beyond the conference, it has been working to establish an online platform for publishing and sharing content regarding Central Asia, including articles, videos and podcasts. The […]
EDUCATION IS A CORNERSTONE OF SUCCESS
Panoba Executive Lifestyle Services specialises in education, property, relocation and events services for the discerning overseas executive. The London-based firm works with a network of esteemed partners to offer a five-star British lifestyle management service to its ranks of international customers. Directors Debbie Gispan and Nicky Sakpoba explain to OCA the crucial importance of knowing […]
Teen Idol: Megan Werner
Tours the Cities of Russia and the Republic of Crimea In just two weeks, a young and inspirational Megan Werner visited seven cities and held 25 presentations across Russia and the Republic of Crimea. Megan Werner is a successful author of the book “It is Up to You”, as well as a trainer, coach and […]
Project: ON THE GREAT SILK ROAD…
Motto: «World without national or government borders! We are one! We are a single field!» Project description. Photo project “On the Great Silk Road” is a showcase of diverse eastern women living in Kazakhstan. This manifold is shown as a gallery of feminine types through images in eastern outfits. These are stylized eastern images of […]
To people like you I can say that I’m Uzbek
It’s a Sunday at the end of one of the many busy weeks working on the new BBC Uzbek TV programme for Afghanistan’s Uzbek-speakers. I am on a shopping trip to the bustling East Street market in South London, where fresh fruit and vegetables are in abundance and sold for almost nothing. Known as a […]
The Land of Frozen Tears – a Book of Tales and Hopes as an Outsider in Kazakhstan
‘Everyone has a book in them’, someone once said – I hope I have two or three! But ‘in them’ is not ‘out of them’,in public and it is the publication that gives birth to your ideas and exposes your soul. This may be why many people do not let the book loose or release […]
Ashugs and classical ashug music
Azeris have a wide range of musical forms and styles to satisfy their needs. They also enjoy international as well as their national music. However, to love and enjoy music is quite different from feeling oneself in it, i.e. as an Azeri, to identify oneself with a specific type of music. National music has specific […]
Svetlana Yudina: “Everything begins with itself”
Today, expensive accessories made of precious metals and stones are replaced by accessories made from natural materials in ethnic style. The new trend opened new names for the world – young and talented masters. Handicraftsman from Central Asia, whose culture and history serve them as an inexhaustible source of inspiration, have succeeded in creating unusual […]
Great Britain-Belarus: 25 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations
2017 is a very important year for Belarus and Great Britain, as this year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Great Britain became the first European country to have diplomatic relations with Belarus. This is certainly an important part of the history of friendship between the two states. In an interview […]
Turkmenistan-an emering force in sport
Multi-sport games such as the Olympics are familiar to us all. Every four years the eyes of the world focus towards a major city such as London, Rio or Beijing as the finest athletes on the planet pit their skills in a media-frenzied cauldron of sporting excellence. Such games formats are not unique to the […]
Tajikistan and the United States of America: Gardening a Tree of Friendship
A message from H.E. Mr. Farhod SALIM, Ambassador of Tajikistan to the United States of America The Republic of Tajikistan and the United States of America celebrated 25th anniversary of bilateral relationship in 2016. The United States was among the first countries to recognize the independence of Tajikistan in 1991. Since the establishment of bilateral […]
The American View: EXPO-2017 People are the source of future energy
In the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, the international specialized exhibition “Expo-2017” has finished its work. It has continued for 3 months since 10’th of June to 10’th of September. There were 115 countries and 22 international organizations who has participated in EXPO. The exhibition was been visited by about 3 million people. The theme of […]
Fashion Project: ON THE GREAT SILK ROAD…
Motto: “World without national or government borders! We are one! We are a single field!” The Photo project, “On the Great Silk Road”, is a showcase of diverse eastern women living in Kazakhstan. This manifold is shown as a gallery of feminine types through images in eastern outfits. These are stylized eastern images of modern […]
Sharaf Rashidov’s 100th birth anniversary: remembering the Uzbek statesman and a writer
This year marks the 100th anniversary since birth of Sharaf R. Rashidov, the first secretary of the Uzbek communist party (in office from 1959 until 1983). Rashidov was born on November the 6th 1917, the day before the Bolsheviks under Lenin seized power in Russia. His birthday seems symbolical as he would become the highest […]