The Kazakhs, a Turkic people, are the second largest Muslim group in Central Asia. In the past, they may have been the most influential of the various Central Asian ethnic groups. The majority of Kazakhs reside in Kazakhstan. Large communities are also found in Mongolia, Ukraine and Russia.
The Kazakhs formed their distinctive ethnic identity in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Several of their clans formed a federation to ensure mutual protection. As other clans joined the federation, its political influence began to take on an ethnic character. In the nineteenth century, the Russians took over Central Asia through successive annexations. They eventually took over the entire territory of Kazakhstan. Unfortunately, about half of the Kazakh population perished during the Russian Civil War of the 1920s and 1930s. Many fled to China and Mongolia during this time. They live in many countries, although most remain in Kazakhstan.
Since the collapse of Soviet communism in 1991, Kazakhs have been in search of an identity. Traditionally, they were nomadic herders; however, under Soviet rule, much of their land was confiscated and used for collective agriculture. As industry developed, their economy and culture became completely dependent on the Russians. Today, however, there is a widespread movement to revitalise their own cultural identity. For example, some favour replacing Russian with Kazakh as the language of commerce.
As nomadic herders, the Kazakhs lived in dome-shaped felt tents called yurts. These portable dwellings could be dismantled and moved from place to place when the herder found suitable land for his herds. When Kazakhstan was part of the USSR, many Kazakhs were forced to move to cities and live in houses or small flats.
Kazakhs eat a variety of meat and dairy products. A popular Kazakh dish is beshbarmak, which is eaten with the hands. It is made of noodles, potatoes, onions and mutton. Rice and bread are staple foods. Fruit and vegetables grow in abundance in the southern regions of Kazakhstan. People there enjoy eating grapes, melons and tomatoes. Kazakh apples are famous throughout Central Asia.
The basis of Kazakh culture is hospitality, which always starts with a cup of tea. The host offers tea to anyone who comes to his house.
Most Kazakhs are bilingual. But gradually Russian is being - and in some places has already been - relegated to the background. Will they keep Russian as the language of commerce, since it is a world-class language, or will they use their local language?
