Kemal
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I romanticized our nation a lot and didn’t know many things happening with Dungans.
Kemal is a reasonably tall guy—almost 2 meters. His outfits are always unique as he combines hipster style with different cultural elements: shirts with Kyrgyz ornaments and a traditional Central Asian hat—tubeteika. He calls himself a Kyrgyz Dungan from Karakol, one of the largest cities on the Issyk-Kul shore. Nearby is the village of Irdyk, or as Dungans call it, Dyshin, which became the center of migration for Dungans in the 18th century.
Double black
sheep
sheep
“I was from Kyrgyzstan and, at the same time, Dungan, and in my school, no one knew who the Dungans were.”
Kemal moved with his family to Almaty at a young age until he turned 16. He remembers feeling like a
"black sheep" among his peers.
He had no opportunity to practice the culture and converse in the language, as his social community mainly consisted of Russians, Kazakhs, and Koreans.
At 16, he returned to Karakol to participate in the FLEX program. A city boy from Almaty surrounded mostly by Kyrgyz classmates, he felt like the odd one out, becoming again what he called himself a “double black sheep.”
Kemal’s father wanted to send him to Dyshin every summer, “I will send you to Dyshin; you will live there for three months, and you will work at the farm.”
The intention behind that was not to punish but to get Kemal accustomed to the culture.
"black sheep" among his peers.
He had no opportunity to practice the culture and converse in the language, as his social community mainly consisted of Russians, Kazakhs, and Koreans.
At 16, he returned to Karakol to participate in the FLEX program. A city boy from Almaty surrounded mostly by Kyrgyz classmates, he felt like the odd one out, becoming again what he called himself a “double black sheep.”
Kemal’s father wanted to send him to Dyshin every summer, “I will send you to Dyshin; you will live there for three months, and you will work at the farm.”
The intention behind that was not to punish but to get Kemal accustomed to the culture.
“
Although this did not happen, I wish I had left for a year as a child to live in Dyshin, have purely Dungan friends there, and learn how to dig potatoes on a farm. I would like that to happen.
The Dungan mosque in Karakol is more than 110 years old. At the beginning of the 20th century, specially invited Beijing Chinese architect Zhou-Si and 20 Chinese craftsmen built it without a single nail.
Photo credits: Kloop.kg
Photo credits: Kloop.kg
"Once, I pretended to be Korean for a long time until I met a guy from South Korea"
When Kemal turned 17, he flew to the US to study at the high school. He shared his ethnicity with close friends; for others, he was sometimes from Kyrgyzstan, Russia, or Kazakhstan.
“I had a French friend who was tall, handsome, and muscular. All girls liked him. Therefore, I also had to stand out somehow and have my quirks. I began to say that I was from Russia to attract girls’ attention, and presented Pushkin’s poems at parties,” – Kemal recalls his time in the US with a smile.
“I had a French friend who was tall, handsome, and muscular. All girls liked him. Therefore, I also had to stand out somehow and have my quirks. I began to say that I was from Russia to attract girls’ attention, and presented Pushkin’s poems at parties,” – Kemal recalls his time in the US with a smile.
After finishing high school, Kemal traveled extensively, not attaching himself to any country and calling himself “a global citizen.”
"I was anyone. Sometimes, I was Korean. On Tuesdays, I was Japanese. On Wednesdays, I was Chinese. Once, I pretended to be Korean for a long time until I met a guy from South Korea.
I called him “oppa.” He looked at me strangely all the time. One day, he came and said, “Stop calling me that.” I thought it was “brother.” It was funny when it turned out to be “older brother in Korean, used only by women," says Kemal with a smile.
kyrgyz dungan
China
A turning point for Kemal happened during his Bachelor’s studies in China. While diving into Chinese culture, he unexpectedly immersed himself in Dungan culture. Seven years spent there greatly influenced his perspective on his identity. Through learning Mandarin, he started to understand Dungan better. At the university, he met two students from Kyrgyzstan, who became his close friends. That friendship left a significant impact on him.
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They planted a small seed of love and patriotism for Kyrgyzstan. Together, we opened an Association of Kyrgyz students in China and worked with the embassy, organizing conferences and meetings with ambassadors and consuls. Once, we filmed a movie dedicated to Chinghiz Aitmatov's birthday, which was quite popular in Kyrgyzstan. It was a great time. After closely working and engaging with Kyrgyz students, I started to identify as Kyrgyz Dungan.
Kemal understood how unique Dungans are, incorporating a mix of cultures: Post-Soviet, Islamic, East Asian Chinese, and a bit of Western.
“I think this makes our experience unique. We should generally be ideal diplomats; trade is our strong big point. Thanks to my “Dungan DNA,” I quickly adapted to different countries and made many friends," believes Kemal.
After finishing his Master’s in engineering, Kemal returned to Kyrgyzstan. One day, he randomly met two Chui Dungans and had a deep talk.
“I think this makes our experience unique. We should generally be ideal diplomats; trade is our strong big point. Thanks to my “Dungan DNA,” I quickly adapted to different countries and made many friends," believes Kemal.
After finishing his Master’s in engineering, Kemal returned to Kyrgyzstan. One day, he randomly met two Chui Dungans and had a deep talk.
“I romanticized our nation a lot and didn’t know many things happening with Dungans. They broke my illusions, telling me how Dungans in Chui villages are not friends with each other; they fight, they don’t provide their children with education, there are a lot of early marriages of 16 and 17-year-old girls, and that some Dungans don’t adhere to Muslim canons. I was probably in a fog for three hours. I was distraught, “ shares Kemal.
These two young men saw a leader in Kemal and offered him the opportunity to open a Dungan youth movement. Kemal realized that it would be challenging to accomplish as he did not have the opportunity to pay people, and only a few would agree to work voluntarily.
These two young men saw a leader in Kemal and offered him the opportunity to open a Dungan youth movement. Kemal realized that it would be challenging to accomplish as he did not have the opportunity to pay people, and only a few would agree to work voluntarily.
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“I agree, there is nothing modern, no joint charitable movements among young people. There are different Dungan associations, but as far as we know, older people are sitting there, and there is a lot of bureaucracy, and everything there is outdated. People think about how to earn more money and become successful faster, but there is no time for social movements.
But, In Sha Allah, one day, I will do it.
But, In Sha Allah, one day, I will do it.
Khandzheza Karim, deputy of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic and ex-chairman of the board of the Dungan Association of Kyrgyzstan from 2016-2021, believes that Dungans lack a particular platform for the youth community.
“Working as chairman of the Dungan Association of Kyrgyzstan, I saw this problem from the inside; there is no platform where young people can gather and hold some debates and discussions, simply get to know each other. The fact is that there are remarkably few gems who care about the preservation of culture, customs, and traditions. In the 21st century, everything has become material; everyone is looking for a way to make money. But without culture, there is no future. This will further affect economic development and cultural development.
To develop a culture among young people, it is necessary to select activists. Less than 10% of the total population of Dungans in Kyrgyzstan lives in Bishkek. Most young people hang out in villages. It is necessary to create cultural centers and platforms there. It is essential to appoint a leader to gather children, explain, and carry out instructions and preventive work among young people. In every village where Dungans live compactly, these leaders should organize lectures, competitions, sports, and debates while considering the national uniform, national costumes, and national cuisine. The Dungan ethnic group must have its own unique identity. This should lead to the fact that young people will at least know their history," commented Karim.
“Working as chairman of the Dungan Association of Kyrgyzstan, I saw this problem from the inside; there is no platform where young people can gather and hold some debates and discussions, simply get to know each other. The fact is that there are remarkably few gems who care about the preservation of culture, customs, and traditions. In the 21st century, everything has become material; everyone is looking for a way to make money. But without culture, there is no future. This will further affect economic development and cultural development.
To develop a culture among young people, it is necessary to select activists. Less than 10% of the total population of Dungans in Kyrgyzstan lives in Bishkek. Most young people hang out in villages. It is necessary to create cultural centers and platforms there. It is essential to appoint a leader to gather children, explain, and carry out instructions and preventive work among young people. In every village where Dungans live compactly, these leaders should organize lectures, competitions, sports, and debates while considering the national uniform, national costumes, and national cuisine. The Dungan ethnic group must have its own unique identity. This should lead to the fact that young people will at least know their history," commented Karim.
"I encourage learning Mandarin and leveling up career opportunities."
Despite his connection to the culture, Kemal sees no point in learning the Dungan language.
“I can spend a year learning the Dungan language. That may sound selfish, but what will the benefits be? So I can better bargain at the market? Say admirable words to grandmothers? Ultimately, it will still be a broken, incomprehensible, very Russified Dungan. Even our parents no longer communicate in Dungan. At home, we speak Russian, and at school, we speak Russian. Your Dungan friends also speak only Russian. I think we won’t be able to return to the Dungan language. That's why I encourage learning Mandarin and leveling up career opportunities," says Kemal.
“I can spend a year learning the Dungan language. That may sound selfish, but what will the benefits be? So I can better bargain at the market? Say admirable words to grandmothers? Ultimately, it will still be a broken, incomprehensible, very Russified Dungan. Even our parents no longer communicate in Dungan. At home, we speak Russian, and at school, we speak Russian. Your Dungan friends also speak only Russian. I think we won’t be able to return to the Dungan language. That's why I encourage learning Mandarin and leveling up career opportunities," says Kemal.
Kemal dreams of becoming a school director in Irdyk and riding a bicycle around the village.
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“I believe that if we want to preserve Dungan culture, we should not try to hold on to the old but to upgrade ourselves collectively into something new. I want to become a director at the Yrdyk school and bring changes.”
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