By Reuters Staff
2 Min Read
TALAS, Kyrgyzstan (Reuters) - For hours now, Doolot Sydykov has been sitting on a platform in the middle of Bishkek’s main square, half-singing, half-speaking, eyes closed and rocking from side to side.
The sight of Sydykov in a trance-like state, dressed in traditional Kyrgyz garb and a fur hat, is striking. But every Kyrgyz will know that he is reciting the Epic of Manas, a poem half a million lines long about the history of their homeland, and that he is one of the manaschi, the professional storytellers who have passed it down over the generations.
By Reuters Staff
2 Min Read
TALAS, Kyrgyzstan (Reuters) - For hours now, Doolot Sydykov has been sitting on a platform in the middle of Bishkek’s main square, half-singing, half-speaking, eyes closed and rocking from side to side.
The sight of Sydykov in a trance-like state, dressed in traditional Kyrgyz garb and a fur hat, is striking. But every Kyrgyz will know that he is reciting the Epic of Manas, a poem half a million lines long about the history of their homeland, and that he is one of the manaschi, the professional storytellers who have passed it down over the generations.
Nationalist resurgence fires up Kyrgyzstan s traditional storytellers reuters.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from reuters.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.