In the cultural history of Turkmenistan, not many people have played a role as important as Magtymguly Fragi, also known under the name Fraga. This year marks the 300th anniversary of Magtymguly Fragi’s birth, celebrating the poet’s legacy.
Born in 1724, Fragi grew up under de Safavid Empire, in what is now the southern region of Turkmenistan, at a time when raids were a common sight. This, and the fact that his father was himself a poet, undoubtedly contributed to his literary style.
“He was the first among the predecessors, to have a powerful, defiant voice, openly speaking out against the enemies not only of his people, but also the peoples of the entire region”, Chinar Rustamova, Executive secretary of the National Commission of Turkmenistan for UNESCO, wrote in an op-ed for Society.
Fraga’s poems are a chronological encyclopaedia. They are of utmost importance when trying to understand and reconstruct the political and economic events of his time. Moreover, according to Rustamova, “he managed to rise above tribal prejudices and called to unification of Turkmen tribes to fight against foreign enslavers, to create a single Turkmen state”.
Magtymguly Fragi’s impact on literature must be noted too. Many poets who came after him were inspired by his works, both nationally and internationally. “It is a rare example of the oral and written heritage of the Turkmen people and the peoples of the entire Turkic-speaking world, since they embody the traditions of the oral poetry of the Turkmen people and the literatures of Central Asia and Europe. His poems sound like a hymn to humanism, patriotism, unity, and cohesion, they have become a reference point and a model for scientists and poets of many countries”, UNESCO acknowledges.
A collection of poems by Magtymguly Fragi consisting of more than 80 divans, copied from his original manuscripts by his close relatives, fellow villagers, poets, scientists, as well as folk singers, has been inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register in 2023. Turkmenistan’s proposal to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the birth of the poet was also included in the List of significant dates for joint celebration with UNESCO in 2024-2025.
