The English-language edition of an anthology of poems and ballads, “God and Love,” by Kyrgyz poet and composer Atantai Akbarov was presented at the MEGA Fest 2026 international festival in London. The book was published and brought to an international audience by the British publisher Hertfordshire Press.
“God and Love” introduces English-speaking audiences to one of Kyrgyzstan’s most celebrated literary figures. Atantai Akbarov is an Honored Worker of Culture of the Kyrgyz Republic, Deputy Chairman of the National Union of Writers of the Kyrgyz Republic, Chairman of the World Academy of Literature and Art Society, and a member of both the Eurasian Writers’ Union and the Writers’ Union of Turkey. His groundbreaking collections have reshaped modern Kyrgyz poetry, earning him numerous prestigious international awards, including the Alykul Osmonov Literary Prize, the TURKSOY Gold Medal, the World Intellectual Property Organization Gold Medal, the Chekhov Prize of the Russian Federation, and many others. In 2025, he was named Poet of the Year by the International PEN Club of Poets.
Akbarov is one of Kyrgyzstan’s most renowned contemporary poets. His work is distinguished by its philosophical depth, attention to moral issues, and respect for the cultural traditions of the Kyrgyz people.
“God and Love” is a philosophical and lyrical exploration of the eternal themes of love, faith, human dignity, and spiritual quest.
Translated from Kyrgyz into English by respected poet and translator Arzykan Jabyeva, “God and Love” offers readers a remarkable journey through the emotional, spiritual, and philosophical landscapes of Akbarov’s poetic universe.
The presentation was a key event of the literary part of MEGA Fest 2026 in London, which annually brings together writers, publishers, translators, and cultural figures from around the world.
The presentation took place on the author’s birthday. Not only his wife and children came to support the poet on this important day, but also representatives of the Kyrgyz diaspora in the UK, festival guests, writers, publishers, and literature enthusiasts.
The author read his poems in Kyrgyz, and translations of these poems were recited by the young British actor and director Dan Akhm.
The publication of the book in English opens the works of Atantai Akbarov to a wider international audience and promotes Kyrgyz literature far beyond Central Asia. “God and Love” is now available for purchase through Amazon UK and Discovery Bookshop.
