Join us for the premiere of a new documentary, The Path, by Aibek Baiymbetov, an MA student in Ethnomusicology at Wesleyan University, followed by a Q&A with the director.
The performance of the Kyrgyz epic Manas represents as a vivid example of a living oral tradition that continues to be practiced among performers and their audiences in contemporary Kyrgyzstan. However, the perception of traditional performance art, both by the performers and their listeners is changing under the influence of modern contexts. The central figure of the ethnographic documentary film is a manaschy (epic storyteller) whose name is Kulmat. He received the gift of storytelling from the spirits of the epic’s heroes in his youth through a visionary dream. In this way, ancestral spirits select individuals and bestow upon them the blessing to become storytellers. Kulmat recounts his unique journey of becoming a manaschy, as well as the challenges, responsibilities, and obstacles he faces in practicing his art. The storyteller believes that the epic is a living embodiment of the spirits of the epic heroes, who continue to serve the people through the art of the epic performance. Recognizing the importance of this mission, Kulmat preserves the old tradition by mentoring a new generation of young storytellers. The film sheds light on the dynamic interplay between tradition and modernity in the preservation and transmission of cultural heritage, offering valuable insights into the evolving role of the manaschy in contemporary Kyrgyz society.
The film has a total runtime of 40 minutes, and is in the Kyrgyz language with English subtitles.
Sponsored by the World Music Archives & Music Library — [email protected].