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…. Forgotten in the back corridors of history for more than half a millennium since the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Kazakhstan is making a stunning comeback propelled by an oil-rich homeland and a reasonably tolerant post-Soviet government.
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The Kazakhs, a Turkic people, are the second largest Muslim group of Central Asia. In the past, they were perhaps the most influential of the various Central Asian ethnic groups. While most Kazakhs now live in Kazakhstan, they make up only 53% of the country population. Large communities can also be found in Northwest China and in neighbouring Russia and smaller communities in Uzbekistan, Mongolia and Turkey. From their earliest history the Kazakhs were nomads, following their herds across the Central Asian steppes from summer mountain pastures to winter valleys. |
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Ethnically, the country is as diverse, with the Kazakhs making up over half the population, the Russians comprising just over a quarter, and smaller minorities of Ukrainians, Germans, Chechens, Kurds, Koreans and Central Asian ethnic groups accounting for the rest. These groups generally live in harmony, though ethnic Russians resent the lack of dual citizenship and having to pass a Kazakh language test in order to work for government or state bodies.
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Hospitality is a distinctive characteristic of the Kazakhs. The host will be offended if the guest does not accept refreshments offered him. Guests should accept, at the minimum, a piece of bread and two cups of traditional tea. In the course of a day it does mater how many times guests come to the door, the host is obligated to offer each one food and tea.
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Kazakhstan
