Nesipbek Aituly

(1950-2023)

Nesipbek Aituly was born in 1950 in the Tarbagatai region of Eastern Turkestan. He was a poet, laureate of the State Prize, honored figure of Kazakhstan, and holder of the "Parasat" order. He is an epic poet whose selected seven-volume work was published by "Foliant" in 2015.

He began his career at the district newspaper "Zhana Omir" in Shubartau. In 1974, he graduated from the journalism faculty of Kazakh State University.

From 1974 to 1984, he was the head of the poetry department at the magazine "Baldyrgan" and an editor at "Zhalyn" publishing house. From 1984 to 1994, he served as a literary consultant at the Union of Writers of Kazakhstan. From 1995 to 1996, he was the director of the "Akin" association. From 1997 to 2001, he was the head of the criticism department at the newspaper "Kazakh Literature" and the poetry department at the magazine "Zhuldyz."

Since 2001, he moved to the city of Astana and worked at L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University and the Presidential Culture Center.

He was a member of the secretariat of the Union of Writers of Kazakhstan and the director of the S. Seyfullin Museum in Astana.

His first poem "Balalyk" was published in 1965 in the district newspaper "Zhana Omir," his first collection was published in 1972 with the good wishes of Mukagali Makataev in the newspaper "Leninshil Zhas," and his first book was released in 1974 under the title "Kozykosh." His books include "Zhurektagi Zhanǵyryqtar," "Ake Turaly Syr," "Zhanyr Anı," "Tundelep Ushqan Tyrnalard," "Rukhymnyń Padishasy," "Mukagali-Zheltoksan," "Baiterek," children's book "Balabakshaǵa Barar Zholda," "Zhelkildep Osken Quraqtai," "Kumis Kuime" ("Silver Chest"), "Qartaymaidy Kün Neye?" and he translated the great Eastern poet A. Nauaidi's "Eskendir Qorgany," "Laili-Majhin" epics, "Song of Igor's Campaign," and other translated books. He brought to life the poems of the great Turkish poet Yunus Emre, the ancient Chinese poet Bo Czyu, the French poet J.Rodari, as well as the works of M.Isakovsky, A.Barto, S.Mikhalkov, S.Baruzdin, V.Berestov, T.Sydykov, and S.Jusuev in his native language.

The poems "Bas Suyekteri" (1976), "Zhasynnyń Synyǵy" (1977), "Nayzaǵay" (1978), "Zhurektagi Zhanǵyryqtar" (1979) won awards in national competitions published by the "Zhalyn" almanac, and the poem "Mukhtar men Abyz" won the grand prize of a poetry contest dedicated to the 100th anniversary of M. Auezov. The poem "Mukagali-Zheltoksan" received an award at the National Literary Competition in 2001, while the poem "Baiterek" was highly valued by the literary community. In 2004, he was the grand prize winner of the National Patriotic Songs Competition announced by the Ministry of Culture.

Books such as "Baiterek" (2003), "Koz Zhasym" selected works (2006), "Börıtostagan" (2007), "Erlikke Eskertkish" (2008), "Sardar" (2008), "Qulanoynaq" (2009), "Arqatirek" (2010), "Nauryzbai" (2011), "Tu" (2012), "Sarayımdan Shykqan Soz" (2014), "Dariğa, Dauren" (2018), and others have been published.

N. Aituly is a poet who has also made a significant contribution to the genre of song-poetry. Many of his works, such as "An Dombyra," "Saryarka," "Dauren-ai," "Arman," "Dariğa, Dauren," and "Qazaqtai El Qayda," have become beloved songs sung by the people.

Poet Nesipbek Aituly expresses keen opinions on pressing issues in contemporary Kazakh society, significant events affecting the bright future of our nation and its present day, and regularly publishes his urgent thoughts as a free-spirited writer. The issues of the mother tongue, ancestral language, and national values, especially the pressing matters in our spiritual life, have never escaped the poet's attention. His articles and interviews in this direction were published as a separate volume titled "Sarayımdan Shykqan Soz" (2014). In 2023, a collection of poems titled "Esil de Esil, Esil Kün..." was published as part of the "Abay Zholy" library project.