Today we hear that in Europe, including Germany, there are many specialists who are not inferior to us in the production of kumis and kazy-karta, which have already become our national brand. You can also buy clothes and jewelry with national patterns not only in our country, but also abroad. For example, a girl named Azhar, who lives in America, sews turbans and sweatshirts with embroidered Kazakh words. A group of specialists produces and sells dombras in Ankara. In Switzerland, Kandas is engaged in weaving tekemet carpets. We recently learned that there is a Kazakh living in the Czech Republic who makes kamcha (Kazakh whips).

I have been repairing cars since 1996.

Nurlan Beysekeyev was born in the village of Pushkino (now Akbel) in the Bukhar-Zhyrau district of the Karaganda region. After that, he went to school in the village of Petrovka in this region.  There he worked as an agronomist in agriculture, but due to the stagnation of the nineties, he left the village and moved to the city.

“The recession was felt strongly at the time. So in 1996 I moved to the city and started repairing cars. If you count, I have been repairing cars from that time until now. Until 2008, I worked as a car mechanic at several service stations. After that, I was appointed to the position of workshop foreman, then head of the workshop. Later I worked as a technical director. “Before leaving for the Czech Republic, I worked as a workshop manager,” says Nurlan.

It is clear that we are all interested in what prompted Nurlan, who worked as a manager in our country, to come to work abroad. Claiming that what he saw and studied is food for thought, he says that he did not come here to travel, as many people think, but to work.

“I wanted to see how people live and work in this country. I wanted to go abroad and try to work. So, I came to Hradec Kralove, not far from Prague, and got a job. Here I work as a car repairman in a company. I have been living in this city for a year and a half already," he claims that he likes working here.

I taught myself how to weave whips

When we heard that Nurlan weaves whips, we thought that he learned it while living in Kazakhstan. But we were wrong.

"Living here, I taught myself how to weave a whip. Our working hours are ten hours. In the evening, after work, there is absolutely nothing to do at home. Besides, I am not one of those people who laze around at home. I do not want to look at my phone or TV. I decided that it would be right to stay at work and learn how to weave a whip. At first, I looked up how to weave a whip correctly on the Internet and on YouTube a couple of times, and one day I tried it myself. At first, I used any material that I had. Once I used a leather apron that welders wear. Then I began to order and buy normal leather. I hope many people like my work," says the master, who does not sit without things to do as soon as I have free time.

“By the way, I’m not saying that I’ll stay in Prague forever. I’ll work and then return to the country,” Nurlan interrupts us. “I needed to do something so that I wouldn’t sit idly by. At first I wanted to weave a basket in which I could put different things. Then I thought, why not try to make products in the national style, which will seem special to foreigners. At this time, active boys and girls were actively preparing for the holiday. One of them said: “I will cook and bring baursaks,” the other said: “I will try to find asyks.” and someone said: “I’ll try to find handmade crafts.” Then I suggested: “Let me bring kamcha.” I came to work and tried to make it.      It turned out that I could do it. Since then it has become my hobby. After finishing the work,  I will stay there and make various products. Besides the whip, I made a leather bracelet. I want to make many more things in the future,” says Nurlan, saying that he will not stop there.
Only active Kazakhs of the Czech Republic know about this skill of Nurlan. A group of young people who went abroad and celebrated our culture; Nurlan is often invited to various cultural events held on Prague Square.

I will conduct whip weaving workshops in the main square of Prague.

“Last September I took part in the annual REFUFEST festival. Here, representatives of various nationalities living in the Czech Republic present their culture and traditions through national dishes and products. After the participation of the active Kazakh girl Darina Zhumagulova, we prepared a Kazakh corner and presented Kazakhstan to the assembled public. At that time I made two kamchas. Unfortunately, at that time I had little experience. I weaved in the easiest way. But now I can say that I am a professional. Now I do more complex weaving than before. I am collecting materials and equipment gradually,” he says, adding that it is important to do it well to create a national product.

“By the way, in the future I plan to do advertising. In addition to the Czech Republic, orders come from other countries from people interested in our culture. It’s interesting that in addition to orders from abroad, many of my friends in Kazakhstan also place orders after hearing that I can weave damask. There are also Russians among them. Yesterday we ordered 5 whips. Our brother Askhat lives here, who moved here 30 years ago and now owns his own sheep breeding company. We often gather there, drink tea from the samovar, and cook meat in Kazakh style. He saw that I was weaving and made a request to me. I made Kamcha for him and gave it to him,” says Nurlan, saying that the Kazakhs living here often get together.
At the initiative of the Kazakh nomad community, the Nauryz holiday will be celebrated on April 13 in the large Pankrach park in Prague. At this event, Nurlan plans to hold a master class on weaving, which aims to attract at least 500 people.

“Kamcha has different braids. It is divided into four braids, six braids and eight braids. I want to show foreigners how to weave kamcha - one of our national products, preserved for centuries, occupying a special place in the life and traditions of our people,” Nurlan said at the end of the speech.

 

Author

Aliya Tleuzhankyzy

turkystan.kz

translated by Qazalem