Almakhan Mukhametkalikyz

Almakhan Mukhametkalikyz is a poet and a member of the Union of Writers of Kazakhstan. Almakhan was born in 1962 in a large, simple family in the former Makanshy district, in the village of Zharbulak. From a young age, she grew up as a curious child with a passion for songs and poetry. Her interest in literature began in school, where no entertainment event was complete without poet Almakhan. The art of words was inherited from her maternal grandfather, Sayakhmet. The poems she wrote during her school years were published in republican publications such as "Baldyrgan" and "Kazakhstan Pioneer" from 1976 to 1979. The poet's recognition by the public began in 1979.

That year, she won first place in the district poetry competition and became the youngest poet of the Zharbulak state farm. Later, she moved to Semey, where she met literature enthusiasts and established herself as a written poet. Her verses began to be frequently published in district, regional, and republican publications.

In 1991, she successfully graduated from the language and literature department of Semey Pedagogical Institute and worked as a research officer at the Aбай Museum, studying the works of Aбай. In 1999, her poem "Kuraksiz Ana," consisting of 140 verses on the topic of the polygon, was published in the Semey Tany newspaper. That year, she won first prize at a poetry competition for written poets held in Ust-Kamenogorsk.

In 1999, her first poetry collection "Zhansaya" was published, followed by her second collection "Zhyr-ghumyr" in 2002. In 2003, "Tylsym Syry" was published, and in 2009, "Mung - Menin Manggi Ustazym," and in 2010, a poetry collection titled "Bir Boten Oi Aitqym Keledi" was released by the "Foliant" publishing house in Astana. She also organized a television program called "The World of Aбай." On October 3, 2002, she won first place in a regional poetry competition dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the late M. Ibraev.

In 2012, she was awarded a letter of appreciation from the city mayor I. Tasmagambetov for her contributions to the study of Aбай. By the decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated November 29, 2016, she was awarded the commemorative badge "25th Anniversary of Kazakhstan's Independence," the "Aбай" badge, and the medal for excellence in the field of culture of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In 2020, on the eve of the Independence Day, she received the badge of "Excellence in the Field of Culture" from the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In 2021, she was awarded the "Aбай" badge in honor of the 175th anniversary of the great Aбай, organized by the Aбай International Cultural Center.