ULBIKE ZHANKELDYKYZY

ULBIKE ZHANKELDYKYZY (1825-1849) is a poet-improvisator, singer and dombyra player. She was born in Terenozen district of Kyzylorda oblast. At the age of 12-13 she started writing poems. Ulbike Zhankeldykyzy was a well-educated woman. Her father Zhangeldy and mother helped her improve her poetic talent.

Having moved to Aulieata, Ulbike started to participate in contests of akyns (aitys). She competed with such famous poets as Kuderikozha, Mailykozha, Madelikozha and others. She left about 1000 verses of aitys and several poems. M. Kopeyev, A. Divayev, V. Radlov and other folklorists made every effort to collect Ulbike?s heritage. Thus, V. Radlov published Ulbike?s poems in Petersburg. Kazakh writers M. Auezov, S. Mukanov and M. Zholdasbekov highly appreciated poetic mastership of Ulbike. Ulbike?s life was bright but short. In spite of her beauty and talent she was married to a jealous and brutal man, who was far from art. She was killed by her husband.