Kazakh in Turkmenistan


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Kazakhs of Turkmenistan belong to a larger group of people who live primarily in present day Kazakhstan. Traditionally the Kazaks were semi nomadic, equestrian tribal people who roamed the Ural Mountains and the regions of North and Central Asia of Eurasia. Only people of the Kazakh ethnic group are called Kazakhs, while the term Kazakhstani refers to the people of Kazakhstan, inclusive of all ethnic groups living in the country. Kazakhs developed a distinct ethnic identity in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. As several of the clans formed a federation for mutual protection, they took on an ethnic identity of their own. Through the years, the Kazakhs closely preserved their culture by keeping an epic tradition of oral history. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the annexation of Central Asia by Russia and the Soviet Union respectively, resulted in many Kazakhs fleeing the steppes to Europe and Asia, with many later becoming citizens of other countries. Today you will find Kazakhs in Russia, Ukraine, and all the Central Asian countries including Turkmenistan. They usually speak Turkmen outside the home and the Kazakh language with other Kazakhs. The two languages have many similarities.


What Are Their Lives Like?

As part of their nation building strategy, the government of Kazakhstan has actively supported the return migration of Kazakhs in diaspora by offering incentives. As a result, one million ethnic Kazakhs have repatriated to their ancestral homeland. Therefore, there are fewer Kazakhs in Turkmenistan and other Central Asian countries. As nomads and herders roaming the steppes in the early times, tribalism formed the basis of their society and tribes consisted of family members and family elders. Arranged marriages and inter-tribal marriages helped them maintain peace and gave them a sense of security. In the modern world, one can see tribalism slowly fading in business or government and everyday life. Nonetheless, when ethnic Kazakhs meet one another for the first time, they usually ask about the other person's clan background. As the Kazakhs dispersed during the Soviet annexation, the diaspora Kazakhs, over time, embraced the language and traditions of the land they emigrated to including that of Turkmenistan.

Dome shaped felt tents, called yurts, once housed the nomadic shepherds. As expats, many were forced to move to the cities and live in houses or small apartments, taking up low paid jobs in the cities or work on farms. Due to their poor living conditions, many were pushed to the brink of poverty. However, rapid industrialization raised their standard of living during industrial revolution. Nonetheless, materialism and corruption are rampant in the current society. No matter where they live the Kazakhs have their own cuisine, though it is similar to that of other Central Asian peoples like the Turkmen. Besbarmak is a traditional Kazakh food, made with boiled horsemeat or lamb. Rice and bread are common staples. The Kazakhs enjoy eating apples, grapes, melons and tomatoes and drinking fermented horse milk. Those who practice Islam do not drink alcohol, but they drink tea with almost every meal.

Kazakhs extend great hospitality and are open to external influences. Kazakhs consider it an offence to decline an invitation to dine at their homes. They mark their social occasions with lavish feasts and singing in groups. They often play the dombra and kobyz, two traditional stringed instruments.

Western style dress is common among the men and women living in Turkmen cities like Ashgabat. The structure of the Kazakh family is patriarchal, or male-dominated, but this is gradually changing. Such changes have caused a breakdown in the traditional Kazakh family. Kazakhs still retain an extremely hierarchical view and people with age and position are given great respect and honor.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Kazakhs are Sunni Muslims, and they are the second largest Muslim group of Central Asia. Islam was first introduced to them in the early eighth century. Their Islamic practices are combined with traditional folk religions such as shamanism, animism and ancestor worship. Many Kazakhs, even now, continue to consult shamans (priests who communicate with the spirits). They also practice traditional rituals before and after marriage, at birth and at death. Many of them wear "protection" beads and talismans to ward off the evil spirits and the evil eye. Missionary efforts by various Christian organizations since 1818, has borne fruit among the Kazakhs. Today, the entire Bible, in modern translation, is available in the Kazakh language.


What Are Their Needs?

The Kazakhs in Turkmenistan need the chance to find their way to the cross and the empty grave.


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to send long term laborers to live among Kazakhs in Turkmenistan and share the love of Christ with them. Ask the Holy Spirit to open the hearts of Kazakhs, so that they will be receptive to the gospel. Pray that Christian who are filled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit will have open doors to share the gospel with the Kazakhs. Ask the Lord to raise up a church planting movement among Kazakhs in Turkmenistan.


Scripture Prayers for the Kazakh in Turkmenistan.


References

https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakh-settles-returnees-russian-speaking-regions/32122862.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazakhs


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

The Kazakhs of Central Asia

Source:  Asia Harvest      Download

People Name General Kazakh
People Name in Country Kazakh
Pronunciation KAH-zahk
Alternate Names Gazaqi; Hazake; Kazax; Qazaq; Qazaqi; कॅज़ॅक
Population this Country 32,000
Population all Countries 16,898,000
Total Countries 24
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 12599
ROP3 Code 104791
Country Turkmenistan
Region Asia, Central
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 29  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Country Turkmenistan
Region Asia, Central
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 29  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.80 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
94.20 %
Non-Religious
5.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Kazakh
Language Code kaz   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Kazakh
Language Code kaz   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Kazakh

Primary Language:  Kazakh

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1818-1989)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1820-2008)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1993-2014)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Kazakh Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Kazakh Bible Video (Kieli Kitap 2010) General / Other
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Kazakh YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Киелі Кітап (Kazakh Bible) General / Other
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Kazakh YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter IBT, Russia - resources Institute for Bible Translation
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Kazakh Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Photo Source Petar Milošević - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source Bethany World Prayer Center  
Video Source Asia Harvest
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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