The Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports, and Youth Policy of Kyrgyzstan has announced a competition for new lyrics and music for the national anthem, reports the national portal “Adyrna.”
This was stated on the ministry’s official website and social media pages.
The competition aims to create a “highly artistic musical composition that reflects the historical heritage, cultural traditions, and national unity of the Kyrgyz people.” The jury evaluating the submitted works will include members of the Jogorku Kenesh (parliament), representatives of state bodies, writers, composers, and cultural figures. If no suitable composition is found or if there are too few submissions, the competition will be considered void.
The initiative to change the national anthem was first proposed in October 2024 by the Speaker of the Jogorku Kenesh, Nurlanbek Shakiev. He argued that the anthem adopted when Kyrgyzstan gained independence is difficult to perform and that some citizens struggle to recite it in full.
Later, President Sadyr Japarov supported the idea, stating that there is nothing wrong with updating national symbols.
