Monument to N. Baiganin

Historical background: Nurpeis Baiganin was born on 20 June 1860 in the territory of present-day Temir District in Aktobe Region. He was a folk poet, zhyrau and Honored Art Worker of Kazakhstan. He passed away on 9 April 1945.

Nurpeis Baiganin was one of the outstanding representatives of the Kazakh epic performance tradition who carried it into the twentieth century. He performed at major fairs in Temir, Oyil, Irgiz and Uralsk, reciting such epics as “Kobylandy Batyr”, “Alpamys Batyr”, “Er Targyn”, “Kyz Zhibek” and “Aiman — Sholpan”. The poet knew dozens of epic works by heart, and his legacy has been preserved as an important example of Kazakh oral literature and traditional performance art.

Description: The monument consists of upper and lower pedestals, a foundation and a sculpture. Its total height is 3.60 meters. The foundation is made of cement blocks and measures 12.2 by 6 meters. The pedestal is made of light gray marble: the lower part measures 4.6 by 6.1 meters, while the upper part measures 1.36 by 2.5 by 2.9 meters. The sculpture is made of cement-asbestos material and covered with copper on the outside. The sculpture is 2.3 meters high. The monument faces northeast.

Sculptor: G. G. Elizbarashvili

Architect: A. Azhigaliyev

Cultural and historical significance: The monument to Nurpeis Baiganin honors the Kazakh zhyrau school, the epic tradition and the culture of oral poetry performed with the dombra. It commemorates not only the poet himself, but also heroic epics, historical memory and traditional performance art. This monument in Aktobe is an important cultural landmark that promotes national literary heritage and encourages younger generations to learn about Kazakh poetry and the art of the zhyrau.

Read more:

1. Adilet. State list of monuments of history and culture of local significance in Aktobe Region
2. adebiportal.kz: Нұрпейіс Байғанин
3. e-history.kz: 158 жыл бұрын (1860-1945) халық ақыны, жырау, Қазақстанның еңбек сіңірген өнер қайраткері Байғанин Нұрпейіс дүниеге келді
4. aqtobegazeti.kz: Нұрпейіс Байғанин