ESTAI BERKIMBAIULY

ai (Esmagambet) Berkimbaiuly (1868-1946) is a singer, composer and poet. He is an Honored Worker of Arts of Kazakhstan, one of the first members of Union of Composers of Kazakhstan.

He was born in Akkol village of Ekibastuz municipality in Pavlodar region. His mother Kulipa and uncle Baitulym also were singers. From the early childhood Estai learned to sing many songs, dastans and heroic stories. His talent was opened when he was 7-8 years old.

He was acquainted with Birezhan Sal. Together with famous singers and poets as Zharylgapberdi, Akan seri, Baluan Sholak, Ukili Ybyrai, Satmagambet, Shahubai and others he performed at large holidays in Omsk, Kokshetau, Petropavlovsk, Zhaisan, Tarbagatay and Zhetysu.

His singer "Korlan" turned him into a legend. The melody of the song was used in operas as "Birzhan-Sara", "Er Targyn" in the concert of S. Shabelsky and L. Shargorodskoy.

In 1939 Estay took part in the 2^nd session of the Union of Writers of Kazakhstan. During the Great Patriotic War he gave concerts among population encouraging them to victory. In 1945 he participated in the events dedicated to the 100^th anniversary of great Kazakh poet Abay where he took part in the contest with such well-known poets of that time as Nurlybek, Toleu, sapargali and Nartai.

In 1968 poet M. Alimbayev devoted poem "Estai-Korlan" to Estai Berkimbaiuly.

  

Source: Kazakhstan, National Encyclopedia, volume 2.