Usenbaev, Alymkul

Born May 16 (28), 1894, in the village of Kara-Archa, in what is now Dzhety-Ogurskii Raion, Kirghiz SSR; died Aug. 2, 1963, in Frunze. Soviet Kirghiz akyn (improvisatory folk poet and singer). Member of the CPSU from 1944. Pupil of Toktogul Satylganov. People’s Artist of the Kirghiz SSR (1939).

Before the October Revolution of 1917, Usenbaev composed songs about the hard lot of ordinary people. His works written in the Soviet period extolled the creative labor of the Kirghiz people. The first of the many collections of Usenbaev’s works was published in 1938. He was also known as a performer of folk epic poetry. Usenbaev was awarded the Order of Lenin, two orders, and various medals.