|
The President of the Republic is Circassian (Arsen B. Qanoqwe
[Kanokov]).
The Chairman of the Parliament is Balkar (Ilyas B. Bechelov).
It should be
noted that there is an unwritten law concerning the top state
positions in Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachai-Cherkessia: a
Kabardian gets the top position and a Balkarthe second in the
former, and a Karachai gets the top position and a Cherkess gets
the second in the latter. This is a reflection of the population
compositions in the two republics.
Other areas of the North Caucasus where Kabardians are found in
significant numbers are the
Mozdok area in North Ossetia to the east, the Stavropol Krai (part
of the historical land of the Kabardians and Beslanay, or the
Circassians of the 'Five Mountains'), and the Karachai-Cherkess
Republic n the west, where the Kabardians are the main constituent
of the Circassian population.
The historical land of the Kabardians was much larger than that
covered by present-day
Kabarda, which lost large territories to the Stavropol Krai and
North Ossetia.
The restoration of Greater and Lesser Kabarda (as an interim
towards the eventual establishment of Greater Circassia) is one of
the demands of Kabardian nationalists.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flag
of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic,
Adopted on 21 July 1994. Blue skies and lush green land are
interconnected by twin-peaked 'Waschhemaxwe, the 'Auspicious
Mount'.
Coat of Arms of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic.
The mighty eagle soars above the majestic mount.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Academic
Institutions
(1)
The Kabardino-Balkarian State University
In July 1932, the Kabardino-Balkarian Pedagogical Institute was
founded. It was the forerunner of the Kabardino-Balkarian State
University, which was inaugurated in 1957. The University offers
degree courses in Kabardian language and literature. Some
published papers and theses take up cultural themes. Instruction
in the University (with the exception of the Kabardian and Balkar
language and literature departments) is in Russian.
The Institute of Philology of the University offers specialties in
Kabardian language and literature in the Department of Kabardian
Language and Literature. The Department was established in 1932.
The first Head of Department was T'ut'e M. Boriqwey (1932-1937).
The Department prepares philologists and teachers and offers a
bachelor degree in Kabardian philology. Postgraduate degrees are
also offered in the Department, including Master of the
Kabardian-Cherkess Literature and Master of Kabardian-Cherkess
Language. The Department is headed by Kh. T. Taov (Taw). The staff
of the Department is made up of 18 personnel, including five
professors and doctors. Scholarly output of the staff include
monographs, articles, and collections of scholarly works. The
Department also prepares textbooks and school supplies for the
teaching of Circassian in republican schools.
The University portal is only offered in Russian. The English
language service of the site has been eradicated. Instead of
adding Circassian, as was the hope for many years, English has
been removed. The policy of Russification and isolation is afoot
everywhere in Circassia.
There are a number of books on Circassian culture and folklore
available online, for example B. Kh. Bgazhnokov (Bghezchnoqwe),
Adigskaya ètika [Circassian Ethics], Nalchik: El’-Fa, 1999, 2000.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2)
The North Caucasus State Institute of Fine Arts
[1 Lenin Avenue, Nalchik]
Established in Nalchik in 1992, the Institute publishes the
journal 'Transactions of the North Caucasus State Institute of
Fine Arts'. It has a music faculty, where illustrious musical
figures, such as the famous singer Natalia (Natasha) Ghestashe
(Gastasheva), teach. The Institute does not have a dedicated
website.
Северо-Кавказский государственный институт искусств
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Governmental Institutions
(1)
Official Site of the President of the Kabardino-Balkarian
Republic
Site is presented in English and Russian, but not Circassian. The
President, Arsen B. Qanoqwe [Kanokov], who is Kabardian, could be
accessed by e-mail (in all principal languages).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2)
Ministry of Culture and Information Communication of the
Kabardino-Balkarian Republic
[Government House, 27 Lenin Avenue, Nalchik]
The Minister of Culture is Kabardian (Ruslan Boris Fire; Firov,
who replaced Zawir Tut recently). I was unable to find a dedicated
website for the Ministry in any language!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3)
Ministry of Education and Science of the Kabardino-Balkarian
Republic
[Government House, 27 Lenin Avenue, Nalchik]
The Minister of Education and Science is Sefarbiy H. Schheghepso
(Shkhagapsoev), a Kabardian. The site and information is wholly in
Russian.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4)
Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the
Kabardino-Balkarian Republic
[Government House, 27 Lenin Street, Nalchik]
Site carried only in Russian. Includes various information on
Kabardino-Balkaria. There is no attempt to communicate with people
beyond Russia.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Circassian Nationalist Organisations
(1)
International Circassian Association
[6 Schojents'ik'w Avenue, Nalchik]
The site of the Association is served in Russian, and only in
Russian, and it doesn't seem to be very active. The association
publishes the magazine 'Circassian World' and the newspaper
'Nart'. E-mail: dahkbr@mail.ru
[The following background information is from A. Jaimoukha, The
Circassians: A Handbook, London: RoutledgeCurzon (Taylor &
Francis); New York: Palgrave and Routledge, 2001, pp 86-7]
The International Circassian Congress & Association
The first International Circassian Congress (ICC) was held in
Nalchik on 19-21 May 1991. The Congress was attended by
representatives of the Adige Xase in Kabardino-Balkaria, Adigea
and the Karachai-Cherkess Republic, by delegates from the Abkhaz
Popular Movement, the Motherland Association (Rodina or Xekw), and
by envoys from the Circassian associations and cultural centres in
Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Germany, the Netherlands and the
USA. In this context, ‘Circassian’ denotes both Adiga and
Abkhaz-Abaza.
One of the principal resolutions of the Congress was the
establishment of Duneypso Sherjes Xase, the International
Circassian Association (ICA). This body was formed of elected
members representing the republics in the Russian Federation and
the diaspora. Its main task was to co-ordinate efforts directed at
setting up and developing cultural relations among all Circassian
communities around the world. The ICA was tasked with the
preservation and development of national culture and folklore, and
promoting the status of Circassian, which had been under
tremendous pressure.
The Congress declared that the ICA was to be entrusted with the
study and solution of the general problems facing all Circassian
peoples, the research into and writing of the actual Circassian
history, guarantee of religious freedom, and the preservation of
the national character of the Circassians. It also purported to
offer all possible assistance to the Circassians who want to
return to their ancestral lands, and to repatriate and restore all
Circassian historical and cultural treasures that are dispersed
around the globe.
The Congress ratified the charter of the ICA and elected the
Association’s leadership. The first president of the ICA was the
late Yura Kalmyk, who later became Minister of Justice in the
Russian Federation. It was decided that the centre of the ICA
would be in Nalchik.
[Eventually, the Russians were able to neutralize the nationalist
movement through foul means and by placing their 'men' in key
positions in its leadership. However, there is still a rump of
sincere nationalists who still hold the ideals of the ICC and ICA]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2)
Official Site of the Circassian Congress of the
Kabardino-Balkarian Republic
The site is only in Russian! I guess the Circassian 'nationalists'
do not get the irony of a Circassian nationalist site publishing
in Russian (and not the national language Circassian). I suggest
that a new category of 'Russian Circassian nationalism' should be
coined. Publish in Circassian!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Libraries
The National Library of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic [in
the Name of T. K. Melbax'we (Malbakhov)]
[42 Negwme (Nogmov) Street, Nalchik. E-mail: sasa@kblib.nalnet.ru;
avtomlibkbr@yandex.ru]
Library, as is the case with all other libraries in Circassia,
does not have a dedicated website! For the benefit of researchers
into Kabardian issues an Internet portal must be established with
a resource search facility, and even the resources themselves
(books, journals, periodicals, records, CDs, DVDs) should be made
electronically available.
Kabardino-Balkarian Republic Children Library (in the Name of
Bechmirze Pasch'e)
[50 Tarchok Street, Nalchik]
Bechmirze Pasch’e (Pachev) (1854-1936) was a poet of considerable
talent, who still holds a special place as one of the prominent
figures of national culture 9of the Circassians), and is
accredited with founding modern Kabardian poetry. He was able to
render oral traditions into literary language. He devised an
alphabet for Kabardian and taught it to the common folk. In
addition, he wrote lyrics for many songs. Of him the Circassian
scholar and writer Askerbi (As-cherbiy) T. Shorten (Shortanov)
wrote: ‘The works of this great poet are intimately connected with
the fatherland. They throw light upon the yearnings, history, and
current situation of his people. He is verily the poet of the
masses.’ In recognition of these contributions, a bust of Pasch’e
was erected at the City Park in Nalchik.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
National Archives
The Archives of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic
[13 Gorky Street, Nalchik]
The information is available in Russian. Music audio materials
should also be digitized and made available in cyber space.
E-mail: archives_kbr@mail.ru
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Museums & Galleries
[All the museums in Circassia have webpages within the portal 'The
Museums of Russia'. None has a dedicated website. All information
is in Russian]
The National Museum of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic
[62 Gorky Street, Nalchik]
Established in 1921. Some 10,000 exhibits are displayed in the
museum. The Museum does not have a dedicated website.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
United State Museum of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic
[62 Gorky Street, Nalchik]
Established in 1921. Collections include Circassian weapons,
implements and equipment, costumes, ornaments, felt carpets, etc.
The Museum does not have a dedicated website.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kabardino-Balkarian State Museum of the Fine Arts
[35 Lenin Avenue, Nalchik]
Established in 1960. The Museum does not have a dedicated website.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Literary Museum of the City of Nalchik
[Dolinsk, Elbrus Sanatorium, Nalchik]
Featured Circassian literary figures: Alim Ch'ischoqwe (Keshokov),
Zuber Thegheziyt (Tkhagazitov), and Bechmirze Pasch'e [Pachev].
The Museum does not have a dedicated website.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Memorial Museum-Quarter of Aliy A. Schojents'ik'w
(Shogentsukov)
[35 Gorky Street, Nalchik]
The Museum was opened in 1990 in honour of the great Circassian
literary figure Aliy Schojents'ik'w. The Museum does not have a
dedicated website.
Aliy Schojents’ik’w (1900-1942) wrote and published many
collections of poems and works of fiction, like The Young Hero.
His classic poem ‘Off the Threshold’ was the theme of F. A.
Silyakhin’s short cantata Fortune is Nigh. A dictionary of his
literary language was compiled by Liywan Zex’wex’w in
acknowledgement of his linguistic mastery.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mass Media & Press
Mass Information Media in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic
****
[Nalchik]
Portal that provides links to major mass media publications,
including newspapers, magazines, and books. There are 10 books in
Kabardian authored by Kabardian writers (published by Elbrus Book
Press) available for downloading. Pdf files of newspapers (in
Circassian and Russian) are also available for download. Regional
newspapers are also available online and for downloading. The site
is only served in Russian.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newspapers
(1)
Адыгэ Псалъэ (Adige Psalhe) [Circassian Word] ****
[5 Lenin Avenue, Nalchik]
Circassian language newspaper that is published five times a week.
Organ of the Parliament and Government of the Kabardino-Balkarian
Republic. It started publication in 1924. Also available (in pdf
format) at Mass Information Media Portal.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2)
Kabardino-Balkarian Truth [Kabardino-Balkarskaya Pravda]
[5 Lenin Avenue, Nalchik]
Russian language newspaper. It is the organ of the Parliament and
Government of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. It started to be
published on 1 June 1921.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3)
Sovetskaya Molodyozh [Soviet Youth]
[5 Lenin Avenue, Nalchik]
Published in Russian with one page 'Psine' ['Fountain'] in
Circassian.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4)
Goryanka [The Mountaineer Woman]
[5 Lenin Avenue, Nalchik]
Russian language weekly newspaper on issues of concern to North
Caucasian women. Started publication in 1993.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(5)
Elbrus News
[5 Komsomol Street, Tyrnyauz, Kabardino-Balkaria]
The social and political newspaper of the Elbrus District of the
Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. It was first published in July 1979.
The four page newspaper has one page in Circassian and three pages
in Russian. It is issued twice a week, on Wednesdays and
Saturdays. About 1,500 copies of each edition are printed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(6)
Gazeta Yuga [Newspaper of the South: All News of
Kabardino-Balkaria]
[Nalchik]
Newspaper published every Thursday since 1994, with an electronic
edition. The newspaper and the website are in Russian. An archive
of earlier editions is available online.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Magazines, Journals & Periodicals
(1)
Iуащхьэмахуэ ('Waschhemaxwe) [Mount Elbrus] *****
[5 Lenin Avenue, Nalchik]
This is the most prestigious and influential literary journal in
the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, published (until 1991) by the
Union of the Writers of the Kabardino-Balkarian ASSR. The first
issue of the monthly came out in 1958. The Journal also deals with
historical and artistic matters. Since 1991, it has been published
by the Union of the Circassian Writers of the Kabardino-Balkarian
Republic once every two months. Less than 3,000 copies of each
edition of the Journal are published. The Journal is available for
downloading (in pdf format).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2)
Literaturnaya Kabardino-Balkariya [Literary Kabardino-Balkaria]
[5 Lenin Avenue, Nalchik]
Literary Kabardino-Balkaria is the Russian language organ of the
Union of the Writers of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. It deals
with literary, artistic, social, and political issues. The Journal
is available for downloading (in pdf format).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3)
Нур (Nur) [Light]
[5 Lenin Avenue, Nalchik]
A monthly magazine dedicated to children, Nur, first issued in
January 1982, is published by the Union of the Writers of the
Kabardino-Balkarian ASSR and the Regional Committee of the
All-Union Leninist Young Communist League of the Soviet Union.
About 10,000 copies are printed by Elbrus Press.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4)
Psine (Псынэ) [Fountain] *****
[44 Aliy Schojents'ik'w Street, Nalchik]
This magazine is dedicated to celebrating the life-style and
culture of the Circassians. It is published in Circassian. The
editor-in-chief is Larisa Mereimqwl, and the staff are all
Circassian. The website, also in Circassian, is both informative
and stylish. Contact information is available.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Radio
Broadcasting Service of the State Television and Radio Company
[3 Lenin Avenue, Nalchik]
Other radio services are provided by Russian Radio − Nalchik,
Avtoradio (Evropa plyus) [2 Lenin Avenue, Nalchik], Radio GU
(Broadcasting of the Television Channel 'Kabardino-Balkaria').
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Television
(1)
FGUP State Television and Radio Company 'Kabbalkteledario'
[3 Lenin Avenue, Nalchik]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2)
GU (Broadcasting of the Television Channel
'Kabardino-Balkaria')
[5 Lenin Avenue, Nalchik]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3)
Radio and Television Public Company 'Nalchik'
[6 Balkarov Street, Nalchik]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4)
Aleksandr i K
[54 Lermontov Street, Nalchik]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Theatre
The Kabardian State Drama Theatre (in the Name of Aliy
Schojents'ik'w)
The Kabardian Drama Theatre in Kabardino-Balkaria was
established in the early 1920s.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Kabardino-Balkarian State Musical Theatre
The Kabardino-Balkarian State Musical Theatre was inaugurated in
Nalchik on 27 January 1968. The repertoire of the Theatre includes
Vladimir Mole's opera Qambotre Latsere (Qambot and Latse), which
was composed in 1976 based on Ali Schojents’ik’w’s novel in verse
of the same name (written in 1934-6), and Hesen Qarden's musical
'Son of the Bear – Batir'.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Art Institutions
Union of Artists of Kabardino-Balkaria
The Union of Artists of Kabardino-Balkaria was established in
1956. The site is in Russian.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maestro Teimirqan (Temirkanov) International Foundation for
Cultural Inititaives
The website is in both English and Russian.
Yuri H. Teimirqan (Temirkanov): The most famous Circassian
classical conductor. A native Kabardian, Teimirqan was born in
1938 in Nalchik, where he studied the violin. He was then admitted
to the Leningrad Conservatory School, where he studied the violin
and conducting. After graduation, he began to conduct at the
Leningrad Opera. In 1968, he won the second National Conductor’s
Competition and a year later he was appointed music director of
the Leningrad Symphony. For his substantive contribution to the
art of music, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the
Kabardino-Balkarian Autonomous Republic bestowed upon him the
title of People’s Artist of the Republic in 1973. In 1977
Teimirqan became artistic director and chief conductor of the
Kirov Opera. In 1980, he was made Principal Guest Conductor of the
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London, and in 1992 he was
appointed principal director, succeeding André Previn. In 1988 he
was named music director and principal conductor of the St
Petersburg (formerly Leningrad) Philharmonic Orchestra. He is
former Director of Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. He recorded many
works with the international BMG/RCA record label and has also
conducted many orchestras the world over.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internet Portals
(1)
The Kabardino-Balkarian Republic
This official portal is out of date (by many years). It is served
in Russian only.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2)
Culture of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic **
Materials on the culture of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3)
Jegwak'we (ДжэгуакIуэ) [Bards: History of the Circassians]
****
[Dzeliqwe (Zolsky) District, Kabardino-Balkaria]
This website is very informative and has lots of data on
Circassian cultural and historical issues by mainstay Circassian
writers and scholars.
There are many interesting sections on genealogy (including a
genealogical bibliography) and other interesting matters. The main
drawback is that the site is presented in Russian and the
extensive selection of books (downloadable) and articles are
exclusively in Russian. Any work on Circassian culture must be
based on Circassian and then served with other languages,
preferably English, the global language of choice.
One should pose the following question here as to why such sites
are not served in Circassian:
Is it the lack of mastery of the Circassian language?
Is it the lack of appreciation of the Circassian language
(inferiority complex)?
Is it the realisation that not many people read stuff in
Circassian (the vicious circle is fed by lack of publication in
Circassian)?
Is this an unwritten policy of the authorities?
Do Circassians in the Caucasus practise voluntary self-censorship
by abstaining from writing in Circassian?
...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(5)
'Circassia.Ru & Adigam.Сom' Portal ****
A herald of Circassian cultural and folkloric events. It also
carries articles on culture and folklore. This substantive project
is supported by personnel from all over the Northwest Caucasus.
Information disseminated in Circassian and Russian.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(6)
KBRLIFE.RU: Events and Life in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic
This website is a guide to events and life-styles in
Kabardino-Balkaria. There is a goodly collection of Circassian
songs available for download. The site is only carried in Russian.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(7)
Nalchik Internet Portal
[Nalchik]
Interesting site with a wide range of information and photos.
There is a good collection of Kabardian and Circassian (audio)
music files. Presented only in Russian.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(8)
Nalchik 2000
Good information source in Russian. Many links to cultural and
artistic websites in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. Worth
checking out.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(9)
Kabardino-Balkaria: The World and US
News, events and information portal. The information is presented
in Russian only.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(10)
Tyrnyauz: The Site of the Tyrnyauz Town
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(11)
Zolka: Site of the Dzeliqwe Village
[Dzeliqwe Village, Dzeliqwe (Zolsky) District, Kabardino-Balkaria]
The website carries the news and views of the Dzeliqwe Village in
Kabardino-Balkaria. There is a section on the families resident in
the Village and short accounts thereof. The site is carried
exclusively in Russian.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(12)
Teaching the Circassian Language
You can download whole dictionaries and phrase-books in Kabardian
and Adigean. Very useful site, though served only in Russian.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(13)
Official Site of the Band Noba Rey
The site of the popular Kabardian rock band is in both English and
Russian. Some ancient and traditional Circassian songs are given
modern interpretations. Full songs and fragments, including video
clips, are available for sampling and downloading. The Band leader
is Murat Qashirghe (Kashirgov).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(14)
The Site of Roman Mamay
Roman Mamay's personal website in both Circassian and Russian.
Roman Mamay is a professional accordion player based in the
Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. The virtuoso is a soloist with the
Kabardino-Balkarian State Philharmonic Society. Audio-video
samples of his work are available online. This website is a
paradigm for other artists and cultural workers to emulate.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(15)
Kabardins.com
The website by Yanal Sago is in English.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes on the Kabardian leg of the journey:
Such iconic cultural institutions as 'Kabardinka' and Bzchamiy do
not have their own websites!
'Kabardinka'—The Kabardian Dance Ensemble, one of the first
national troupes, was established in 1934. It started out as an
amateur group, and attracted the best local dancers and musicians.
The debut of the troupe was performed in the village of Zeyiqwe in
the same year. The troupe was re-named the Kabardino-Balkarian
State Song and Dance Ensemble. Abraamov developed part of its
repertoire. In 1938, a choral group was added to the Ensemble, for
which the cream of the republican musicians and poets, Abraamov,
Sheibler, Ryauzov, Keshokov and Ali Schojents’ik’w, combined to
write new songs. The troupe was again re-named the National Folk
Dance Ensemble ‘Kabardinka’. The current official name of the
troupe is ‘Kabardinka Academic Dance Ensemble’. It is considered
one of the finest dance troupes in the Caucasus, and has performed
in the Russian Federation and abroad. Its repertoire includes many
traditional dances with developed choreographs. These convey
reserved inner temperament, majestic beauty and elegance—literally
enchanting the spectators.
Bzchamiy—Bzchamiy (literally: Circassian Zurna) is a Kabardian
group with an impressive range of songs and dance music. It was
established and is directed by Leonid L. Beiqwl (Bekulov),
Honoured Cultural Worker of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. |
