2024, October 14
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The book highlights the stories of individuals who build thriving businesses and play a vital role in preserving and reviving Kazakh culture, traditions, and crafts. The 33 stories featured in the book symbolically mark Kazakhstan’s 33rd year of independence.
“This is the 33rd year of independence for Kazakhstan. It's a very young nation, and despite that, they have managed to create a position for themselves in the world and have brought back their identity that was lost in during 70 years of Soviet Union. 33 is a metaphor for this national revival and connection to the past. We think it's amazing how, especially in the last five years, entrepreneurs have played such an important role in this national revival,” said one of the book's authors, Professor at NU Graduate School of Business Shumaila Yousafzai.
The book, co-authored by Nurlykhan Alzhanova, Alua Nurbayeva, and Shumaila Yousafzai, features compelling stories from entrepreneurs in fields such as fashion, art, jewelry, gastronomy, painting, pottery, and carpet weaving. The authors spent two years conducting interviews across Kazakhstan, uncovering a common theme of cultural revival through business.
“When we were doing all these interviews with various entrepreneurs we saw a very interesting theme coming up – how Kazakh entrepreneurs are reviving the national culture and heritage that was lost in the time of Soviet colonization. It was a very interesting theme for us. We wanted to explore it further. Then we came across Moldir Karybaikyzy, she is a Kazakh artist. She has done a series of paintings that she calls ‘Tamyr’, which means roots,” Yousafzai shared.
The title Tamyr serves as a powerful metaphor for the book, illustrating how entrepreneurship is reconnecting younger generations with their cultural roots. The authors also conducted interviews in neighboring countries, including Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Tajikistan, and observed unique cultural and economic dynamics in Kazakhstan, particularly among women entrepreneurs.
“I think the entrepreneurial women that I have seen in Kazakhstan are the most empowered. They have the most resources in terms of the economic structure, the infrastructure, the roads, the transport, and facilities provided to them. Also, Kazakhstan had a nomadic history, which empowers the women more, compared to Uzbekistan. I feel that they are very empowered. They have more opportunities to grow further and to become stronger,” professor Yousafzai noted.
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In addition to Tamyr, two other books were unveiled at the event. Roots of Heritage: Honoring Hunarmandchilik Tradition in Uzbekistan. 17 Narratives of Craft Entrepreneurs on Preserving the Nation’s Culture and Tradition explores the rich craft traditions of Uzbekistan through the stories of 17 artisans, while Kiiz Ui offers a detailed look at the process of constructing traditional yurts, highlighting each stage of its creation.
Alongside the book launch, the university also hosted the Tamyr Bazaar, a four-day exhibition where local artisans, artists, and sculptors showcased their handmade creations. The bazaar, named after the Kazakh word ‘tamyr,’ celebrates the country’s cultural heritage and offers a platform to support local craftsmanship. The event was held in collaboration with a DAAD-funded workshop.
