Non-Kazakh Poet Wins National Aitys Contest in Astana
Irina Novitskaya, a resident of Amangeldi District in Kostanay Region, has won the national aitys (improvised poetic duel) competition Altyn Shabyrau for non-ethnic Kazakhs. The contest, held in Astana, was timed to coincide with Kazakhstan's Day of National Unity.
Twelve participants took the stage, paired into six duos. Each performed alongside a mentor—an accomplished aitysker—highlighting the tradition's continuity and the living transmission of skill.
The duet of Irina Novitskaya and her fellow Kostanay native Alla Platonova, who now lives in the capital, was declared the most vibrant performance of the evening. Their poetic exchange became the highlight of the night, radiating warmth, wit, and the art of dialogue in every line.
"Irina Novitskaya is actively promoting the state language in Kostanay," noted the press service of the House of Friendship. "She teaches Mämile: Situational Kazakh, a course launched over five years ago at the House of Friendship under the initiative of the regional Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan. Her performance was one of the most powerful and heartfelt."
A touching moment came when the two rivals exchanged symbolic gifts: Irina presented Alla with a tamar—a small pouch of soil from their homeland—while Alla gave her a book by Mukhtar Shakhanov.
The jury awarded first place to Irina Novitskaya and her mentor, Zhibek Shakhmarankyzy, recognizing their exceptional skill. They took home the top prize of 3 million tenge.
