On December 16, London hosted an event commemorating the great Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov. Organized by the British publishing house Hertfordshire Press, which has specialized in translating and publishing works of classic and contemporary authors from Central Asia for nearly twenty years, the event was attended by over 80 guests from England, Kyrgyzstan, Scotland, Australia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Russia.
The event included a presentation of the latest issue of OCA Magazine’s special edition, OCA People, featuring 24 writers and poets, nine artists and designers, four activists, and three filmmakers and performers from 13 countries, including seven representatives of Kyrgyzstan. The issue includes an exclusive interview with a prominent representative of Kyrgyzstan, TURKSOY Secretary General and writer Sultan Raev, who shared his perspective on the mission of writing and spoke of his adherence to Chingiz Aitmatov’s life philosophy and high moral values.
Two weeks earlier, Raev presented Marat Akhmedjanov, founder of Hertfordshire Press, with a medal for his contribution to promoting the culture of the Turkic peoples.
The OCA People’s cover story features Mariiam Tobokelova, an outstanding Kyrgyz musician and komuz player. “Tradition is not the ash we preserve, but the fire we pass on,” Mariiam says in her interview published in the issue. The magazine also features interviews with Zina Karaeva, Doctor of Philology and Professor at the International University of Kyrgyzstan; writer and translator Nargiza Karasartova; writer Bubuira Bektenova; artist Rakhima Arli; and poet Afina Abdulaeva.
At a presentation of books published by Hertfordshire Press, collections by popular poet Gulniza Toichieva and the distinguished Kyrgyz poet Atantay Akbarov were presented, scheduled for publication in the spring of 2026. Particularly noted was the novel “Naked Nimbus” by Kyrgyz writer Shahsanem Murray, published in 2025 as an e-book in English and now available to readers worldwide on Amazon. Shahsanem was recently awarded a special medal in honor of the 10th anniversary of the Eurasian Creative Guild (London) for her long-standing contribution to the promotion of Central Asian culture. The event also featured a presentation of the fourth volume of Voices of Friends: Poetry & Art Almanac 2026, featuring paintings by Elena Savchenko, poems by Daniyar Beisheev, and translations by Farida Jailobaeva.
At the event, Marat Akhmedjanov emphasized that Chingiz Aitmatov’s literary legacy and life continue to inspire new generations of cultural figures, continuing to shape the future legacy of Central Asian countries and the world.
