Abai Literary Memorial Museum

Abai's “Jidebay-Börili” State Historical-Cultural and Literary-Memorial Museum-Reserve — a cultural institution where materials related to the life and poetic path of Abai Qunanbaiuly are collected. It was opened in the city of Semey on October 16, 1940 on the occasion of Abai's 95th anniversary. Initially it was organized at 83 Abai Street. In 1944‑1967 it was located at 132 Komissar Street, and in 1967, due to the increase of the museum’s exhibit collection, it was moved to 12 Lenin Street, which is considered a state architectural monument. The total number of museum items in the Abai Museum-Reserve amounts to 22 304 units. Of these, the main collection comprises 12 550 units, the scientific‑auxiliary collection 9 754 units. They are placed in 11 separate thematic halls. In the sections “Abai. Seasons of the Year”, “Steppe Melody”, “Abai’s Childhood”, “Formation of the Poet”, “Abai’s Works”, “Abai’s Poetic School”, “Abai’s Family”, “Kara Sozder”, “Abai Heritage”, “Multimedia Hall”, “Children’s Room”, archival materials related to Abai’s life, various documents, objects depicting the domestic‑ethnographic life of the Kazakh people, works of handicraft and visual arts, handwritten legacies of poets who lived in that period, photographs, rare books, etc., are exhibited. During the organization of the Semey Historical‑Regional Knowledge Museum, artifacts handed over by Abai himself that illustrate the lifestyle and traditions of the Kazakh people were placed. These artifacts, the remains of the poet’s palm, were delivered to the museum in 1885 by N. Dolgopolov, who came to Abai’s village, and can be especially noted as highly valuable and scientifically significant items that have made a great contribution to promoting Kazakh life and culture. The items submitted by Abai represent the nomadic people’s way of life, economy, culture, and art: national musical instruments, ertek, dishes, weapons, yurt furniture, togyzkumalak, and hunting instruments. The variety of artifacts shows that Abai approached the ethnography of the Kazakh people comprehensively from a scientific perspective and systematically collected the objects.

Museum History…

The museum opened in 1940-1944 in the house of Bekbai Bayisov and in 1944-1967 moved to the house of Aniyar Moldabayev. Both of these houses are related to Abai. When the poet came to the city of Semey in 1875-1904, he stayed in these houses. In 1967, on the eve of the 125th anniversary of Abai, the museum was transferred to the house of Roman Ershov, a log house built in the style of the era in which the great poet lived and considered one of the architectural monuments of the city.

In the first years after its opening the museum was under the supervision of the Ministry of Education with the name “State Literary-Memorial Museum of Abai”. Later it was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Department of Cultural and Educational Institutions. In 1990 it was reorganized as the “State Historical-Cultural and Literary-Memorial Reserve-Museum of Abai”. Today the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Culture Committee’s “Abai ‘Jidebay-Borili’ State Museum-Reserve” includes: the Main Museum in Semey, the Akhmet Riza mosque‑madrasah, the “Alash Heroes – M. Auezov” museum, Abai’s house‑museum in Jidebay, the “Abai‑Shakarim” memorial complex, the “Shakarim Sayat Pavilion” exhibition, Auezov’s house‑museum in Borili, Kokbay Zhanatayuly’s mosque‑madrasah in Takyr, the museum of Aset Naymanbayuly in Makanshi, the house‑museum of Shakir Abenuuly in Kundyzdy, the museum‑house of Kamen Orazalin in the village of Karaul, Abai district, and the 6 400 ha Jidebay reserve. According to Order No. 119 of the Minister of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 30 March 2015, it was granted the status of a monument of republican significance.

Museum Exhibition

“Abai. Seasons of the Year” – the exhibition is based on the poems of Abai Qunanbaiuly dedicated to the seasons of the year. The poet who first depicted the four seasons in Kazakh literature is Abai. Objects that Abai Qunanbaiuly donated to the regional museum occupy a special place in the hall.

"The Melody of the Steppe" – in this section visitors are presented with musical instruments from the museum collection, including a two-string dombra, a three-string dombra, a horsehair kobyz, a flute, and a dombra-like wind instrument.

In the "Poet's Childhood" hall one can become acquainted with the poet's name and lineage. The genealogy is based on Sh. Qudaiberdiyuly's historical work "Genealogy of Turks, Kyrgyz, Kazakhs and Khans." In addition, information about his father Kunanbay, mother Ulzhan, and grandmother Zere can be obtained.

The archival materials in the "Poet's Formation" hall introduce the state‑building activities of Abai's father Kunanbay Oskembayuly. The hall is dedicated to the Akhmet Riza madrasa where Abai studied.

The "Abai's Works" exposition displays the poet's creations organized by theme. The central stand of the exposition presents Hakim Abai's philosophical concepts and his works in Kazakh, Russian, and English.

The "Abai's Poetic School" hall shows the direct mentorship of the teacher‑poet and introduces the poet‑students who continued the Abai tradition. Information is given about Sh. Qudaiberdiyuly and Shakarim's heir and promoter of their works, the poet, teacher, composer A. Shakarimuly, and the scholar and writer M. Auezov, who founded the doctrine of "abaitanu."

The "Abai's Family" hall is dedicated to Abai's family and descendants. The exposition contains items related to the family of Abai Kunanbayuly – Aigerim's headdress, Erkejan's robe and coat, and women's jewelry pieces. The genealogy of the poet's descendants and materials about his progeny are displayed separately.

"Black Words" is devoted to the aphoristic sayings of Abai Kunanbayuly. Abai's black words are, in terms of overall theme and content, closely linked to his poetic legacy. In the hall dedicated to these sayings, visitors become acquainted with the poet's admonitions and receive a blessing from the words he bequeathed to us.

The “Abai Heritage” hall is dedicated to the enduring abundant legacy left by the poet Abai Qunanbaiuly. The exhibition shows the periods of promotion of the poet’s works.

The “Multimedia Hall” informs about the great legacy of Abai Qunanbaiuly in the field of music. In the hall equipped with multimedia devices, visitors can become acquainted with Abai Qunanbaiuly’s musical works.