One of the images depicts the Uyghur dance "Usul," which was captured in 1934, that is, 92 years ago.
Note:
"Usul" (or "Dap usuli") is a traditional Uyghur dance with deep historical roots. An important role in this dance is played by the doira (dap) — one of the oldest musical instruments of the Uyghur people, which is an integral part of their cultural heritage.
Uyghurs in Kyrgyzstan in the 1930s
By that time, descendants of the first settlers from Kashgar and the surrounding areas of Xinjiang, who arrived in the late 19th to early 20th century, had already settled in Kyrgyzstan. These people found their place in the Fergana Valley and Chui region, engaging in agriculture and crafts.
The situation of the Uyghur people in the 1930s was complex and was related to the general upheavals in the region: uprisings and the brief existence of the East Turkestan Republic in Kashgar in 1933, as well as Soviet collectivization and migration in Central Asia. These events contributed to an increase in migration flows towards the USSR, including the future Kyrgyz SSR.
Photograph from the collections of the Central State Archive of Film, Photo, and Sound Documents of the KR.
