Abai Kunanbayev Monument

Abai Kunanbayev (1845–1904) was a Kazakh poet, composer and philosopher born in the Chingiz mountains of what is now the Abai Region. Educated in a Semipalatinsk madrasah and later in a Russian school, he became the founder of modern written Kazakh literature. His "Book of Words" (Qara Sözder), lyric poetry and translations of Pushkin, Lermontov, Goethe and Byron reshaped the Kazakh language and its literary tradition. This bronze monument stands on Abai Square, in front of the Palace of the Republic on Almaty's main north–south avenue that also bears the poet's name. Sculpted by Hakimzhan Nauryzbayev with architects Ismailzhan Montakhayev and Teymuraz Bassenov, it was unveiled in 1960 and quickly became one of the city's symbolic gathering places for concerts, poetry readings and civic celebrations.

1. •
   1845
   Born in the Chingiz Mountains

   Ibrahim ("Abai") Kunanbayev is born into a Tobyqty family of the Argyn tribe.

2. •
   1858
   Studies in Semipalatinsk

   Enters a Semipalatinsk madrasah and later a Russian parish school, meeting Russian and European literature.

3. •
   1886
   Mature poetic period begins

   Signs his verse under the pen name "Abai" and begins his mature body of lyric poetry.

4. •
   1890s
   Writes the Book of Words

   Composes Qara Sözder (the Book of Words), 45 philosophical prose meditations that become a cornerstone of Kazakh thought.

5. •
   1904
   Death of the poet

   Abai dies in the Chingiz mountains and is buried near his home aul.

6. •
   1960
   Monument unveiled in Almaty

   The bronze monument by sculptor Hakimzhan Nauryzbayev is unveiled on Abai Square in front of the Palace of the Republic.

7. •
   1995
   UNESCO year of Abai

   UNESCO celebrates the 150th anniversary of Abai's birth, marking his global cultural stature.