Screening of “The Path”: a film by Aibek Baiymbetov

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The Living Performance of Manas epic: Oral Tradition and Cultural Continuity in Contemporary Kyrgyzstan This ethnographic documentary examines the living oral tradition of the Kyrgyz Manas epic through the lens of Kulmat, a manaschy (epic storyteller) whose vocation was divinely ordained in a visionary dream. The film investigates the intersection of individual spiritual experience and collective cultural heritage, exploring Kulmat’s belief that the epic embodies the voices of ancestors. By documenting the challenges of preserving this intricate art form, the work highlights the dynamic interplay between tradition and modernity, shedding light on the evolving role of the manaschy in mentoring a new generation and ensuring cultural continuity