Part 1

I am a Kazakh

My roots go as far down to the Sakas

I am a descendant of the great wild queen, Tomiris

My ancestors travelled the Silk Road,

They lived the nomadic life.

My lands and my people survived the bloody invasions Of Mongols, Djongars and Oirats

We did not bow our heads down to Chingiz Khan

We stood on our ground with pride

And came a long way to where we are now.

My people have been at a constant battle with freedom

Abandoned from their homes,

Suffering from starvation,

Controlled by the Soviet government,

Who stole from our pockets

Who slaughtered our livestock- Our only source of food.

Under the Soviet Union,

Losing about 4 million Kazakhs,

In the years of 1920-1930,

Our nation was at a risk of extinction crisis.

This is how they endured these awful times.

I am a Kazakh

Who could no longer stand the conditions,

Could not endure the Soviet rules.

My voice that has been ignored,

Finally starts speaking up, and raising its tone

We peacefully protest, and we simply want freedom.

It was unarmed youth against troops and fire engines.

Our voices against theirs.

Dogs were hounded on us, Our hairs were dragged,

And we were beaten.

The media captured us as “hooligans” “Aliens within society”

“Ill-mannered criminals.”

But what they refused to acknowledge

Was our sacrifice and devotion

For independence for our homeland.

And this was called Jeltoqsan

The December Uprising,

That was a month in 1986 towards a big step for freedom.

Part 2

I am Seifulin, the activist

The head of the first educational society of Kazakh youth.

I have been both arrested and executed,

For speaking out my mind and for fighting for what’s right.

But I stand as a martyr for freedom.

I am Ryskulov, a hero for the Kazakhs I am the voice that spoke for all of us,

I am a fighter for the rights of our people,

The representative of the Kazakh intelligence,

And founder of the revolutionary union of Kazakh youth.

I am Aliya, the Hero of the Soviet Union

A Kazakh woman who took part in World War 2

I stood on the front lines until my very last breath

I fought until I no longer could stand

I defended our homeland from invaders,

I died at the age of 18,

I died young

But I died for my people,

And I died with honor.

I am Dimash

A Kazakh singer and multi-instrumentalist

Who won many huge prizes

For my harmonic voice

Performing songs in 12 languages

And representing my country worldwide.

I inspired many other Kazakh artists

To step up and show what they are made of.

That Kazakhs are

As talented as they can be,

And we can break through stereotypes

As long as we try hard enough together.

Part 3

Kazakhs have suffered many bloody incidents in our history

To reach independence.

On December 10, 1991

Was the day we stood as a free nation

The day a huge weight was lifted off our shoulders

And the hardships of our ancestors paid off.

Despite harmful stereotypes Like Borat

A mockery of my people

Making others believe

That we’re an uneducated, filthy, and ignorant society

In reality,

Kazakhs are welcoming and hospitable,

With rich culture, nature and history

With bright youth, and wise elderly

With more than 130 nationalities

Living in peace and harmony.

All of the sufferings my people went through,

Is a reminder for us now,

That we can improve as a whole

And that there’s always hope

With the present and next generation,

We can make Kazakhstan a thriving and long lasting country.

We shall endure! We will endure!