London, 16 December 2025 – A cultural event dedicated to the 180th anniversary of the birth of the great Kazakh poet and philosopher Abai Kunanbayev took place in the UK capital.

The event was organised by the British publishing house Hertfordshire Press, which for nearly twenty years has specialised in translating and promoting classical and contemporary authors from Central Asia. More than 80 guests from around the world attended the celebration, including representatives from the United Kingdom, Scotland, Australia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Russia, highlighting the strong international interest in Kazakhstan’s cultural heritage.

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the fourth volume of the unique anthology Voices of Friends: Poetry & Art 2025. Created in the spirit of international cultural dialogue, the anthology brings together works by poets and artists from across the globe. The new edition features contributions from 35 authors representing nine countries, vividly demonstrating the truly global scope of the project and its role in strengthening cultural connections across different eras, languages, and national traditions.

A special place in the fourth volume is devoted to the work of Abai Kunanbayev. His poems are published both in the original Kazakh and in new contemporary English translations by Kazakh diplomat Roman Vassilenko and translator Elden Sarybay. The latter attended the event in person, presenting his work to an international audience. The translators’ sensitive and respectful approach to the poetic word has preserved the musicality of the original texts while conveying the philosophical depth and emotional power of Abai’s poetry, whose ideas continue to resonate worldwide. The anthology also includes poems by Kazakh poet Veronika Pavlova, as well as Russian translations of spiritual poetry by Nurym Taibek, who also took part in the celebration.

The new volume was edited by renowned British playwright David Perry, whose professional editorial vision and refined sense of language gave the publication artistic coherence and expressive clarity while preserving its core idea of intercultural dialogue. The anthology presentation was hosted by Marat Akhmedzhanov, Head of Hertfordshire Press.

Initiated in 2020 by the Eurasian Creative Guild (London), Voices of Friends: Poetry & Art became the world’s first English-language anthology of Eurasian poetry, also published in national languages. Its mission is to unite cultures through poetry and art, create an international platform for dialogue, and preserve and promote Eurasian cultural heritage. The project expands access to poetry for a wider audience, overcomes linguistic and national barriers, and fosters mutual understanding among peoples.

The evening concluded with a festive concert celebrating Kazakhstan’s Independence Day. Live music, book presentations, and a warm, friendly atmosphere provided a fitting finale to the event. Once again, the evening confirmed that the spiritual legacy of Abai Kunanbayev continues to resonate within the global cultural space, while modern Kazakhstan holds a meaningful place in international cultural and humanitarian dialogue.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-london/press/news/details/1127504?lang=kk