In Kyiv, the cultural space "Yurt of Indomitableness" celebrated the Day of the Republic of Kazakhstan. "We congratulate our brotherly Kazakh people on their holiday and thank them for their support during difficult times and their assistance to Ukraine," noted Ukrainian MP, head of the inter-parliamentary friendship group "Ukraine – Kazakhstan," and co-founder of the "Yurt of Indomitableness" project, Sergey Nagornyak.
At the opening of the festive event, the national anthems of Ukraine and Kazakhstan were performed by the Kyiv Academic Municipal Wind Orchestra. Students from the Kyiv School of Ukrainian Dance "Barvinok" delighted the guests with a performance of the Kazakh dance "Kamazhai."
The vocal ensemble of folk songs "Veselat" sang the "Song of Friendship," which is dedicated to the friendship between the Ukrainian and Kazakh peoples and includes lines in the Kazakh language. Notably, the lyrics were written by Dmitry Lutsenko, while the music was composed by Igor Shamo. This duo is one of the most renowned creative partnerships in the history of Ukrainian lyrical art. Lutsenko and Shamo are the authors of the lyrics and music for the anthem of Kyiv.
"We decided to use this day as a gift to the Kazakh people to show how Ukrainians honor Kazakh culture: after all, in the center of Kyiv, in Taras Shevchenko Park, is our 'Yurt of Indomitableness'—an authentic Kazakh yurt that showcases the lifestyle of the Kazakh people," said Sergey Nagornyak. "We also asked Ukrainian groups to perform Kazakh music, songs, and dances, and I am glad they willingly agreed. Cultural exchange between our nations is very important for developing relations and connections between Ukraine and Kazakhstan. The guests were thrilled not only by the yurt, which was established on January 14, 2023, and continues to amaze visitors and captivate them with Kazakh culture, but they were also excited to hear the 'live' performance of the Kazakh anthem, songs with words in Kazakh, and to see Kazakh dances."
Additionally, groups from the birthplace of the prominent Ukrainian poet and artist Taras Shevchenko—Cherkasy region—came to congratulate the Kazakh people. Taras Shevchenko, whom Ukrainians regard as their Prophet, spent 10 years in exile in Kazakhstan. He frequently depicted the Kazakh people, as well as their lifestyle and culture, both in his paintings and literary works. From the city of Zvenyhorodka (where the "Taras Yurt" was established this year as part of the "Yurt of Indomitableness" project), the folk ensemble "Zaspiv" arrived. The musicians performed a number of songs, including those with lyrics by Taras Shevchenko.
The ensemble members shared warm memories about the installation of the "Taras Yurt." It has become an important attraction for those wishing to visit places associated with Taras Shevchenko. This cultural space has become a vital part of the city's cultural life, as noted by the ensemble members. The folk choir "Rodyna" also came from Cherkasy region, performing Ukrainian folk songs. Guests of the event were shown Kazakh folk costumes, and everyone was treated to Kazakh tea, baursaks, and sweets.