 | |
| Type | Hat |
|---|---|
| Material | Wool felt |
| Place of origin | Kyrgyzstan |
| Ak-kalpak craftsmanship, traditional knowledge and skills in making and wearing Kyrgyz men's headwear | |
|---|---|
| Country | Kyrgyzstan |
| Reference | 01496 |
| Region | Asia and the Pacific |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 2019 (14th session) |
| List | Representative |
Ak-kalpak is a white felt hat that is traditionally worn by Kyrgyz men.
Ak-kalpak takes its name from the Kyrgyz words "ak" (white) and "kalpak", designating any form of hat. (This was passed into Russian as the kolpak in the fifteenth century). [1] The ak-kalpak is an elongated cap formed of four pieces of white wool felt sewn together. It is worn rolled up, so as to form a small rim. Ak-kalpak are usually adorned with black embroidery and a matching lapel; the plain white version is reserved for certain ceremonies. There are more than 80 variants of it. [2]
Reputed to evoke the snow-capped peaks of Kyrgyzstan, [3] it is decorated with embroidery with abstract patterns that also have symbolic meanings. [4] Its four sides represent the four elements (water, earth, air, fire). The edges would bring back to life, the tassels which surmount it in memory of the ancestors and the embroidered motifs would evoke a family tree. [2]
The ak-kalpak distinguishes the Kyrgyz from other local ethnic groups, but is presented as promoting inclusion "when representatives of other ethnic groups wear it to express their union." [2] It now symbolizes the unity of the homeland. Since 2011, the headgear has been considered a de facto national symbol. [4] Nationally, workshops perpetuate manufacturing traditions and exhibitions have been organized since 2013. [2]
Unlike other traditional Kyrgyz clothing which have fallen out of fashion, the ak-kalpak is still regularly worn by men of all ages, in both the capital Bishkek and in the mountains. [4] Since 2017, Kyrgyzstan has celebrated March 5 as "national Ak-kalpak day". [5]
In December 2017 in Bishkek, a dog show in which a dog wore an ak-kalpak in a parade caused a national scandal. [6] Several elected officials, including the ruling Social Democratic Party, castigated what they consider an insult to the motherland: in a country subject to ethnic tensions since the fall of communism in 1991, sensitivity is particularly important on questions of national identity and traditions.
Proposals drafted in response during early 2018 aimed to make the wearing of the ak-kalpak compulsory for the President of the Republic, ministers and certain other dignitaries during official ceremonies and international meetings, and introduces a fine for "disrespecting ak-kalpak", [7] prohibiting its importation, [5] or formally conferring it the status of "cultural symbol". [5] President Sooronbay Jeenbekov repeatedly wore the traditional hat during his election campaign, but did not do so after his election in October 2017. [3]
"Ak-kalpak craftsmanship, traditional knowledge and know-how related to the making and wearing of the Kyrgyz male hat" was inscribed in 2019 on the representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity in December 2019. [8]
Bishkek, formerly known as Frunze, and before that Pishpek, is the capital and largest city of Kyrgyzstan. Bishkek is also the administrative centre of the Chüy Region. Bishkek is situated near the border with Kazakhstan and has a population of 1,074,075, as of 2021.
Kyrgyzstan, officially the Kyrgyz Republic, is a landlocked country in eastern Central Asia, lying in the Tian Shan and Pamir mountain ranges. Bishkek is the capital and largest city. Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the south, and China to the east and southeast. Ethnic Kyrgyz make up the majority of the country's over 7 million people, followed by significant minorities of Uzbeks and Russians.
A kaftan or caftan is a variant of the robe or tunic. Originating in Asia, it has been worn by a number of cultures around the world for thousands of years. In Russian usage, kaftan instead refers to a style of men's long suit with tight sleeves.
Osh is the second-largest city in Kyrgyzstan, located in the Fergana Valley in the south of the country. It is often referred to as the "capital of the south". It is the oldest city in the country and has served as the administrative center of Osh Region since 1939. The city has an ethnically mixed population of 322,164 in 2021, comprising Kyrgyz, Uzbeks, Ukrainians, Koreans, and other smaller ethnic groups.
Roza Isakovna Otunbayeva is a Kyrgyz diplomat and politician who served as the President of Kyrgyzstan from 7 April 2010 until 1 December 2011, becoming the first female Central Asian head of state. She was sworn in on 3 July 2010, after acting as interim leader following the 2010 April Revolution, which led to the ousting of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev. She previously served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and as head of the parliamentary caucus for the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan. She is also known for the persecution of human rights activist Azimzhan Askarov and the failed policy that led to the clashes of June 2010.
The culture of Kyrgyzstan has a wide mix of ethnic groups and cultures, with the Kyrgyz being the majority group. It is generally considered that there are 40 Kyrgyz clans, symbolized by the 40-rayed yellow sun in the center of the flag. The red lines inside the sun visualise the crown of a yurt, the traditional dwelling of nomadic farmers, once the main population of the Central Asian area. The dominant religion of Kyrgyzstan is Sunni Islam (91%). The Russian population is Russian Orthodox.
A tubeteika is a Russian word for many varieties of traditional Central Asian caps. Tubeteikas are today worn in Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, as well as in Muslim-populated regions of Russia and Azerbaijan. The skullcap worn by Uzbeks and Uyghurs is called a doppa and has a square base. It was a popular headgear among children throughout the USSR during the 1940s and 1950s.
Salakot is a traditional lightweight headgear from the Philippines commonly used for protection against the sun and rain. Variants occur among ethnic groups, but all are shaped like a dome or cone and can range in size from having very wide brims to being almost helmet-like. Made from various materials including bamboo, rattan, nito ferns, and bottle gourd, the salakot is held in place by an inner headband and a chinstrap. The tip of the crown commonly has a spiked or knobbed finial made of metal or wood. The salakot is the direct precursor to the pith helmet widely used by European military forces in the colonial era.
Calpack, kalpak, or qalpaq is a Turkic high-crowned cap worn by Bulgarians, Turks, Circassians, Dagestanis, Chechens, Ukrainians, Poles, Russians and throughout Central Asia and the Caucasus.
The Kyrgyz Premier League or OLIMPBET Premier League for sponsorship purposes is the top division of professional football in Kyrgyzstan. It was created in 1992 after the Dissolution of the Soviet Union. The league is composed of eight teams. The most successful team is Dordoi Bishkek who have won the league thirteen times.
Although Kyrgyzstan’s mountains and lakes are an attractive tourist destination, the tourism industry has grown very slowly because it has received little investment. In the early 2000s, an average of about 450,000 tourists visited annually, mainly from countries of the former Soviet Union. In 2018, the British Backpacker Society ranked Kyrgyzstan as the fifth best adventure travel destination on earth, stating that the country was an adventure travel secret that is "bound to get out soon."
Ala kiyiz or tekemet is an ornamenting style for textile floor- or wallcovering made by pressing wet, soaped wool of various colours together to make it felt. The chemical process of felting transforms the loose woolen fibers into a thick cloth. The felt carpet-making technique is a traditional folk art among the nomadic farming Kazakh, Kyrgyz and Mongolian peoples of the Tien Shan mountains and the steppes in Central Asia for over two and a half thousand years. From the various methods of ornamenting, ala kiyiz is among the widest spread, with shyrdak.
UNESCO established its Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage with the aim of ensuring better protection of important intangible cultural heritages worldwide and the awareness of their significance. This list is published by the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, the members of which are elected by State Parties meeting in a General Assembly. Through a compendium of the different oral and intangible treasures of humankind worldwide, the programme aims to draw attention to the importance of safeguarding intangible heritage, which UNESCO has identified as an essential component and as a repository of cultural diversity and of creative expression.
Aitysh Public Fund is a charitable organization, which aims to promote and develop culture throughout Kyrgyzstan. Founded by public figure, producer and director Sadyk Sher-Niyaz in 2001 in the capital of Bishkek, the structure of the Fund consists of the Union of Improvised Singing ‘Aitysh’, Film Production Company ‘Aitysh Film’, International Film Festival "Kyrgyzstan - Land of Short Films", Manas Cinema network and Literary Organization ‘Kalemger’.
Intangible cultural heritage (ICH) includes traditions and living expressions that are passed down from generation to generation within a particular community.
The Independence Day of Kyrgyzstan is the main state holiday in Kyrgyzstan. It is celebrated in Kyrgyzstan annually on August 31, the anniversary of its declaration of independence in 1991.
World Nomad Games are an international sport competition dedicated to ethnic sports practiced in Central Asia. The first three World Nomad Games were held in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan. The fourth games were held in Iznik, Turkey between September 29 and October 2, 2022. More than 3000 athletes from 102 countries participated in the events.
The National Guard of Kyrgyzstan is the National Guard of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan. The national guard was founded on 9 December 1991, by order of President Askar Akayev. The troops took their first oath 20 July 1992. It carries out functions of a representative and protocol nature, protection and protection of strategic facilities of the country, liquidation of the consequences of natural disasters and emergency situations. In 2014, the Internal Troops of the Ministry of the Interior were absorbed into the National Guard as a result of military reforms in the country. This arrangement would stay until September 2018 when the two were separated and the Internal Troops were reformed. In 2016, the Commander of the National Guard was put onto the General Staff of the Armed Forces.
The chedda of Tlemcen is a traditional Algerian dress, more precisely of the city of Tlemcen, but also worn in the west of the country, in particular in Oran and Mostaganem. A product of the local craftsmanship, it is worn by brides in Tlemcen for their wedding ceremony.
A djebba fergani or gandoura is a traditional long velvet dress adorned with elaborate embroidery, originating in Constantine, Algeria. It is made from black or burgundy velvet and features elaborate golden embroidery. It is also worn in Tizi Ouzou, where it is typically made using cotton.
