Authors

Discussion

This paper examines the ways in which the celebration of Sakha summer solstice festival Yhyaq in the Kazakhstan diaspora contributes to Sakha nation-building and the nurturing of transnational relations. As practices which affirm historical, linguistic, religious, and various social bonds, contemporary festivals provide an opportunity to encounter and explore cultural representations (Benett, Taylor and Woodward, 2014). Since the emergence of the Sakha diaspora in Kazakhstan following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Yhyaq has been held in Almaty three times, in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The paper argues that Yhyaq has served as a tool for strengthening both Sakha national identity and the relationship between the diasporic Sakha and their Kazakh hosts by drawing upon linguistic similarities and shared symbolism between Sakha and Kazakh cultures. Based on observations from Yhyaq alongside interviews with organisers and attendees, the paper explores how the transnational nature of the Sakha community in Kazakhstan has encouraged linguistic and cultural vitality while challenging Russian cultural hegemony.

Bennett, A., Taylor, J. and Woodward, I. (2014) The Festivalization of Culture. Oxfordshire: Routledge.