Brasília, August 7, 2025 – On the occasion of the 180th anniversary of the great Kazakh poet, philosopher, and founder of national literature, Abai Kunanbaiuly, the National Library of Brasilia hosted the presentation of the Brazilian edition of “The Book of Words” in Portuguese.

The event was organized by the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Brazil in collaboration with the Kazakhstan-Brazil Friendship Forum and the National Library of the Brazilian capital. The presentation gathered representatives of Brazil’s intellectual community, the diplomatic corps, and local media.

During the event, welcome remarks were delivered by the President of the Planetary Union of Brazil and former senator, Ulysses Riedel de Resende, as well as the Deputy Secretaries of the Federal District for Culture and International Affairs, Felipe Ramon and Paulo César Chaves.

The Executive Director of the Kazakhstan-Brazil Friendship Society and translator of Abai’s “The Book of Words”, Professor Edelcio Americo of Fluminense University, gave a detailed presentation on the history of Kazakh literature and the philosophical messages conveyed by the Great Abai in his work.

The Brazilian attendees showed great interest in the life and legacy of Abai Kunanbaiuly, emphasizing that his writings reflect the spirit of his time, characteristic of the steppe civilization and the formation of the Kazakh national identity. The event also highlighted the unique significance of the first monument to Abai on the American continent, inaugurated in the Leblon district of Rio de Janeiro—a symbol of the spiritual connection between the peoples of Kazakhstan and Brazil.

The cultural highlight of the evening included a performance of Abai’s composition “Kozimnin qarasy” and the traditional melody “Dudaray”. In line with Kazakh traditions of hospitality, guests of the literary afternoon were treated to a festive dastarkhan featuring elements of Kazakh national cuisine.

Abai’s “The Book of Words” was reissued in Portuguese in Brazil as part of the “Kazakh Library in Brazil” project, marking the 180th anniversary of the great Kazakh poet. To date, three volumes of Ilyas Yesenberlin’s The Nomads trilogy—about the history and formation of the first Kazakh state—have also been published in Brazil under this initiative.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-brazil/press/news/details/1047562?lang=kk