OLONKHO
the Yakut Heroic Epos

In 2005 Olonkho was declared by UNESCO International Competition Jury as a masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of the humanity.

That was a great world recognition of the Yakut heroic epos. The army of Yakutian specialists had been working hard on the content of candidate application to make their people's dream true.

Read about the epos:

Short description
written by the first President of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) Michael E. Nikolaev.

Detailed description
As it was written in candidate application for the 3rd proclamation of masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of the humanity.

Read about epos perfomers:

Peter Reshetnikov
The genius who is able to speak up the verses of Olonkho for five, and even for twenty hours.

Read the epos:

The Stealing of Tuyarima Kuo
Excerpt based on the Yakutian epic "Nyurgun Bootur the Swift", a famous Yakutian epic, ranking with "Iliad" and "Odyssey" by Homer, the Scandinavian "Kalevala", with the Kirgiz epic "Manas" and other great epics of the world.

The Test of the Magic Lasso Khalbas Khara
Excerpt based on "Nyurgun Bootur the Swift". Note: in Sakha (Yakutian) mythology there are three worlds: the Upper World (heaven), the Middle World (people world), and the Low World (underground).

The Rescuing of the Hero Khaan Dgargystay
Excerpt based on "Nyurgun Bootur the Swift".

Olonkho on the stage:

Play 'Kyss Debiliye'

Bert Khara Music-Dance Show

Links:

Olonkho Page at UNESCO.org