Culture
Turkmenistan will be represented at the Silk Way Star competition in Astana
18.08.2025The first Silk Way Star Asian singing competition will kick off in Astana, with performers from 12 countries, including Azerbaijan and South Korea, taking part. Turkmenistan will be represented on stage by singer and composer Dovran Shammiev, according to the news agency Orient. Filming for the project will begin on 20 August, and the final live show will take place on 22 November. The broadcast will be available on television channels in the participating countries, including Turkmenistan. The competition consists of 10 episodes dedicated to the musical traditions and contemporary trends of Asia. The results will be determined by a mixed system: 50% of the votes will be cast by an international jury and the other 50% by viewers. Turkmen conductor Rasul Klychev is a member of the expert commission. D. Shammiev himself is known as a performer in the genres of jazz, pop, rock, blues and classical music, a composer and a participant in social initiatives. The organisers position Silk Way Star as a platform for cultural exchange and dialogue through music. The winner will receive the title and the opportunity to perform on the world stage.
Turkmen-Russian concert ‘Music of Peace, Music of Friendship and Brotherhood’ was held in Moscow
16.08.2025On 15 August, a joint concert by Turkmen and Russian musicians dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's neutrality and the proclamation of 2025 as the International Year of Peace and Trust was held in the Rachmaninov Hall of the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory. This was reported by the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Turkmenistan. The concert featured renowned Turkmen and Russian musicians who performed classical pieces and folk melodies of the two countries. Works by N. Halmammedov, Ch. Nurymov, V. Bogdanov-Berezovsky, A. Mosolov and M. Weinberg were performed. The event was organised by the Scientific and Creative Center ‘Musical Cultures of the World’ with the support of the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan, the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Russia and the ‘Sounds of the Dutar’ Foundation. Before the concert, musicologists from Turkmenistan and Russia gave lectures on the cultural ties between the countries. The Ambassador of Turkmenistan to the Russian Federation, representatives of the United Nations and the management of the Moscow Conservatory addressed the guests with welcoming remarks. The speakers noted the importance of such events for strengthening international cooperation. An exhibition was held in the foyer of the conservatory, presenting concert guests with literary and artistic works reflecting the centuries-old dialogue between the cultures of Turkmenistan and Russia.
Young artists from Turkmenistan participate in international festival in Aktau
16.08.2025Young artists from Turkmenistan are participating in the international children's creativity festival ‘Өнерлі өрен’ as part of the ‘Aktau – the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World’ project. This was reported by the news agency Orient. Children from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Tuva and Bashkortostan are also participating in the event. The competition includes four categories: folk instruments, folk and pop singing, and choreography. The festival aims to preserve creative traditions and strengthen cultural ties between Turkic countries. The event is being held at the Abai Cultural and Leisure Complex and will end on 18 August.
A documentary film is being prepared in Turkmenistan to mark the 100th anniversary of Turkmen cinema
16.08.2025In anticipation of the centenary of the ‘Oguzhan Turkmenfilm Association’, which will be celebrated in 2026, work has begun on a large-scale documentary and journalistic project entitled ‘Keşplerde yaşayan ykballar’. The film, written by Ore Dashgynov and directed by Rahymberdi Annagulyev, will be a cinematic journey through the key milestones of national cinema, from the first newsreels of 1926 to contemporary films. This was reported by the IIC. The film will be based on rare archive material, supplemented by dramatised scenes that will recreate the atmosphere of the creative process in different eras. Special attention will be paid to legendary films such as Dursun (1940) by Yevgeniy Ivanov-Barkov, and outstanding personalities such as Alty Garliyev, Mojek Charyev and others. Filming will take place in Ashgabat, Ahal and Balkan velayats, and the final part of the project will focus on the current stage of development of the industry. As screenwriter Ore Dashgynov notes, despite all the historical difficulties, Turkmen filmmakers have always created films that resonated with audiences and gained international recognition. This film will be a tribute to their work and an inspiration for new generations of filmmakers.
Works of Turkmen composer presented at exhibition in Moscow
13.08.2025An exhibition dedicated to the 130th anniversary of Sergey Yesenin has opened at the Russian State Library, with special attention paid to the work of Turkmen composer Nury Halmamedov. This was reported by the IIC of Turkmenistan. The exhibition presents the notes of his vocal cycle “Persian Motifs” based on Yesenin’s poems, created in 1969–1971. This six-part cycle combines European and Eastern musical traditions, using plot features of Turkmen folk legends, which gives the work emotional depth. ‘Persian Motifs’ is considered an outstanding example of 20th-century vocal music and is regularly performed on Russian stages, including the Moscow International Festival of Arts ‘Sounds of Dutar.’ In 2018, the cycle was performed in the Rachmaninov Hall of the Moscow Conservatory in honour of the composer's 80th birthday. Nury Halmamedov is a significant figure in Turkmen and Soviet musical culture, whose work connects the cultures of Turkmenistan and Russia, and whose ‘Persian Motifs’ convey the beauty of Yesenin's poetry through the prism of national colour and Eastern lyricism.
Russian-Turkmen concert will be held in Moscow
13.08.2025On 15 August this year, a joint Russian-Turkmen concert will be held in the Russian capital, symbolising mutual understanding and cooperation between the two countries. The concert, entitled ‘Music of Peace, Music of Friendship and Brotherhood,’ is timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's neutrality, the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, and the declaration of 2025 as the International Year of Peace and Trust. This was reported by the IIC. Cultural figures and diplomats from both countries delivered welcoming speeches, noting the importance of cultural dialogue and the unifying role of musical art. Russian and Turkmen performers will present musical numbers at the concert. The concert will feature music by composers of the past and present, including Moscow Conservatory graduate Nury Halmamedov, whose work links the cultural traditions of Turkmenistan and Russia. The title of the concert was inspired by a work by the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov about the storyteller Shukur-bagshy, who preferred music to war.
Filmmakers from Turkmenistan will participate in the 10th Caspian Media Forum
10.08.2025Filmmakers from Turkmenistan will participate in the 10th Caspian Media Forum, which will be held on 21–22 August in Astrakhan. This was reported by the news agency Orient. Representatives of the film industry from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan will also participate in the event. The forum programme includes a plenary session and four sessions, including ‘Cinema and Media’, organised by the Regional Filmmaking Support Fund (FPRK) of Russia's Union of Filmmakers. During the sessions, experts will discuss the development of the film industry, successful international projects and prospects for joint work. Astrakhan State University will host screenings of documentaries about the cultural traditions of the region's peoples. FPRK Executive Producer Eleonora Tukhareli noted that the forum has been an important platform for intergovernmental and intercultural cooperation for ten years. The forum is organised by the Astrakhan Regional Government, the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the support of the Interstate Humanitarian Cooperation Fund for of the CIS and the ‘Caspian-Eurasia’ Centre.
Books from the Japanese Embassy were donated to libraries in Turkmenistan
09.08.2025During his visit to Mary and Lebap velayats, Japanese Embassy Counsellor Hosaka Hideki presented 150 books to local libraries as part of a cultural exchange programme. This was reported by the IIC. The READ JAPAN PROJECT aims to broaden Turkmenistan's understanding of the traditions and modern life of the Land of the Rising Sun. The Japanese Embassy noted the high level of technical equipment in Turkmen libraries, which, in addition to book collections, also feature museum exhibitions and astronomical complexes. According to diplomats, such infrastructure creates ideal conditions for development and education. The donated literature is expected to become an important resource for students, researchers and anyone interested in Japanese culture. This step is intended to strengthen humanitarian cooperation between the two countries and open up new prospects for mutual cultural enrichment.
The next volume of the novel ‘The Great Seljuks’ has been published in Turkmenistan
09.08.2025The third volume of the novel ‘The Great Seljuks’ by Turkmen historian and national writer Yazmyrat Mammedy has been added to the collection of historical fiction lovers, according to the online publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. The first two volumes have already gained popularity among readers, immersing them in the history of the Oguz and the formation of the Seljuk Empire. The new book covers the period of the formation of the Seljuk state, revealing the strategic interaction between the brothers Chagry-bek and Togrul-bek. By decision of the Great Council, Chagry-bek remains in Merv, controlling Khorasan, while Togrul-bek establishes a centre of power in the city of Rey and launches large-scale military campaigns. A separate chapter is devoted to the reign of Sultan Alp Arslan. The author describes in detail his military successes and outstanding strategic decisions. The narrative culminates in the Battle of Manzikert, where Alp Arslan won a decisive victory over the troops of the Byzantine Emperor Roman IV Diogenes, captured him and earned the title ‘Sultan of Sultans’. The novel ‘The Great Seljuks’ combines a rich historical narrative with accessible language. The publication is accompanied by original illustrations that allow readers to immerse themselves more deeply in the atmosphere of the era described, notes journalist Svetlana Chirtsova.
Avaza: A symphony of cultures at the UN conference
09.08.2025The Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in the ‘Avaza’ National Tourist Zone was memorable not only for its important decisions, but also for its rich cultural programme. This was reported by the news agency Orient. The national pavilions of Central Asia and Azerbaijan transformed the fountain square into a vibrant oriental oasis with craft exhibitions, music, dancing and national cuisine. This created an atmosphere of friendship and mutual understanding, erasing the boundaries between peoples. The differences in the traditions and arts of the countries of the region coexisted harmoniously, reflecting the unique regional identity. Guests from more than 100 countries felt a special cultural unity. Cultural events became not just an addition to the economic agenda of the conference, but an important bridge for strengthening international ties through art and traditions.
Avaza hosted the Days of Culture of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan
09.08.2025A festive concert featuring masters of culture and art from Central Asian countries and the Republic of Azerbaijan was held at the theatrical interactive complex of sea fountains located in the ‘Avaza’ National Tourist Zone. This was reported by the state news agency TDH. The event was the grand finale of a series of national days of friendly states held in this picturesque place. The final day was particularly eventful due to the National Days of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, which gave the holiday a unique flavour. The programme opened with an exhibition showcasing the traditions, crafts and cuisine of the two countries. Guests noted the beauty of the Caspian resort and the high level of organisation. Artists from Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan performed folk, pop and classical music on stage. Light and water installations at the sea fountain complex added a special atmosphere to the programme, and the concert itself became a symbol of friendship, peace and shared values among the peoples of the region.
Avaza will host a festival of national cuisines as part of LLDC 3
04.08.2025On 5 August, the ‘Avaza’ National Tourist Zone will host a national cuisine festival dedicated to the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries. This was reported by the news agency Orient. The event is also dedicated to the national days of Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan, which will be celebrated from 6 to 8 August. At the festival, chefs from friendly countries will present traditional dishes from their countries. The programme also includes a concert and high-level cultural and humanitarian events. Guests will be treated to a variety of Eastern cuisine, tea ceremonies and dishes made from local products. Special emphasis will be placed on the gastronomic heritage of Turkmenistan. The festival will also showcase dishes made from the new harvest and will be held in the spirit of Turkmen hospitality.
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