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ALOHA
This issue highlights Muslim societies in the Central Asian countries with prevalent nomadic lifestyles. Islam entered the shamanistic cultures of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in the 8th century with the expansion of the Abbasid Caliphate. Today this region, formerly under Soviet rule, is slowly undergoing economic development. Rich with oil, natural gas reserves, and mineral deposits the area attracted the attention of the West and China after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. It is estimated that there are over 52 million Muslims living in Central Asia, with Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan accounting for 15.5 million of that total (Kettani, "2010 World Muslim Population".)
Take a virtual trip to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan and explore local music and cuisine.
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Kyrgyzstan: Nomadic Life
in the Modern World
The East-West Center is hosting an exhibition of arts and crafts by the Kyrgyz women's cooperative as well as displaying a yurt with its accoutrements, felt textiles and large embroidery hangings, traditional clothing, traditional musical instruments, silver ornaments, a video of the felt making process, and vivid photographs of nomadic life. The show is curated by Hermine Dreyfuss and Michael Schuster. Photographs are by Hermine Dreyfuss.
Exhibition Dates: October 17, 2010 - January 16, 2011
see Events for related programs
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Kyrgyzstan at a Glance
How to Say: Kyrgyzstan
As you visit the East West Center Exhibition or follow the news from this country, below are some recommendations from the BBC Pronunciation Unit and the Merriam Webster Dictionary on how to pronounce Kyrgyzstan.
According to the BBC Pronuciation Unit, "Kyrgyzstan is kur-gist-áan (-ur as in fur, -i as in sit, -aa as in father, stressed syllables in upper case). This is the established anglicisation codified in British English dictionaries. Kyrgyz, the name of the ethnic group and language, is pronounced Kúr-giz (-z as in zoo, established anglicisation)."
However, their recommendation is anglicized and does not reflect native Kyrgyz pronunciation. Kyrgyz has sounds in the phoneme inventory, which do not exist in English. For example, the original Kyrgyz pronunciation of Kyrgyzstan contains sounds which are unfamiliar and "foreign" to many native English speakers, such as the close back unrounded vowel and the voiced uvular fricative.
Some useful words:
Bishkek (the capital of Kyrgyzstan ) - Bish-kéck
Kurmanbek Bakiyev (ousted president) - Koor-man-béck back-ée-yeff (-f as in fit)
Roza Otubayeva (interim president) - Róh-zuh ot-uun-báa-yuh-vuh (-oh as in no, -uu as in book, -aa as in father)
Click to hear the pronunciation by Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
First Woman to Head a Central Asian State
 Roza Isakovna Otunbayeva was sworn in to be the President of Kyrgyzstan after acting as interim leader following the 2010 April revolution which left 400 dead and led to the ousting of then President Kurmanbek Bakiyev. She became the first woman head of state in the predominantly Muslim Central Asian region.
After stabilizing the country following the ethnic clashes in the southern city of Osh, Otunbayeva paved the way for parliamentary democracy. On October 10 people of Kyrgyzstan and the elections monitors from OSCE witnessed the most free and fair elections in Central Asia's post-Soviet history. |
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Kazakhstan at a Glance
The Revival of Islam in Kazakhstan
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Central Asian region underwent an Islamic revival. Under the Soviet rule, religion was banned along with use of native languages and cultural practices in an attempt to homogenize the people of the USSR. Since gaining independence in 1991, Kazakhs as well as other people in the region rushed to reclaim "lost heritage".
Modern Kazakhstan Embracing Islam and Tolerance
In the early 1990s, Kazakh- stan saw a sharp increase in the number of mosques in the country. Along with religious resurgence, secular education and western culture are being
promoted by the Kazakh government that is in line with the interest of the Kazakh people. Kazakhstan a mutliethnic and mutlireligious state where eighty percent of population are Hanafi Sunni, with a strong Sufi mystical influence that has always emphasized respect for a spiritual cooperation with other religious faiths. more |
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Events in Honolulu
Film: "Beshkempir the Adopted Son"
East-West Center
Sunday, November 7, 2:00-3:30 p.m.
"The Visual World of Kyrgyzstan" East-West Center Sunday, October 24, 2:00-3:00 p.m. Free Statewide eWaste Recycling Program
University of Hawai'i-Mānoa
October 27-29, 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. 16th Annual Men's March Against Violence
University of Hawai'i-Mānoa
October 28, 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Hawaii Psychological Association Annual Convention
Ala Moana Hotel
October 29, 2010 |
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Open Positions
Academic
Assistant Professor, History
Rochester Institute of Technology, College of Liberal Arts
Last day to apply: November 15
Lecturer, South Asian Languages and Civilizations
University of Chicago
Materials to be received: December 1, 2010
Assistant Professor, Central Eurasian Studies
Indiana University-Bloomington
Last day to apply: December 15
Executive Director
9/11 Unity Walk
Washington, DC
Last day to apply: October 26
Director of Development
Project AmaZon
Home based anywhere in US
Last day to apply: October 29
Program Administrator
American Jewish World Service
New York City
Last day to apply: November 5
Community Care Coordinator
Sisters of Mercy Northeast Community
Riverside, Rhode Island
Last day to apply: November 12
Development Assistant
Sisters of Mercy Northeast Community
Cumberland, Rhode Island
Last day to apply: November 12
Program Associate, Religious Diversity in Health Care
Tanenbaum
New York City
Last day to apply: November 14
Coordinator, Office of the Executive Vice President & CEO
Tanenbaum
New York City
Last day to apply: November 14
Development Coordinator
The Salvation Army Greenville, SC
Greenville, South Carolina
Last day to apply: November 15
Executive Director, Zen Hospice Project Zen Hospice Project San Francisco, California
Last day to apply: November 20
Organizer
Earth Quaker Action Team (EQAT)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Last day to apply: December 1
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Conferences
42nd Asia Pacific Academic Consortium Conference
24 to 27 Novermber 2010
Bali, Indonesia
Islamic Civilization - Potentials and Challenges
9 to 10 March 2011
Lahore, Pakistan
Abstract Deadline: 30 October 2010
Center for Islamic Studies National Conference
17 to 19 February 2011
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Abstract Deadline: 5 November 2010
European Conference for Academic Disciplines
10 to 15 April 2011
Gottenheim near Freiburg, Germany
Abstract Deadline: 1 March 2011
American Canadian Conference for Academic Disciplines
23 to 26 May 2011
Toronto, Canada
Abstract Deadline: 18 March 2011
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