Abstract
The article examines the problem of tradition and innovation in the poetry of the outstanding representative of 1980s and 1990s poetry, the talented poet Nurlan Maukenuly. The authors highlight the vivid connection between the poetic thinking of this modern poet and the worldview of the zhyrau, the poetic tradition of the XV–XVIII centuries. Using examples from Nurlan Maukenuly's lyrics, the article assesses the beneficial influence of the zhyrau tradition on the artistic and ideological achievements of modern Kazakh poetry. The authors identify the deep philosophical and ideological continuity between Nurlan Maukenuly's lyrics and zhyrau poetry, exploring the reasons for the shared artistic positions. They compare the imagery and linguistic features characteristic of Maukenuly's works with the legacy of the zhyrau. The article demonstrates the poet's skill in employing poetic interweaving and rhythmic patterns inherent to the zhyrau. The researchers investigate the reasons why the poet turned to the origins of national poetry. They evaluate his civic and poetic persona as well as his artistic and ideological success in glorifying the future, reflecting on historical lessons, and addressing the epochs of the Kazakh nation. The article concludes that Nurlan Maukenuly elevated national poetry to a new level, not only thematically but also artistically and figuratively. Through his skillful modernization of the zhyrau tradition, he vividly describes the contemporary world, revealing the richness of the Kazakh poetic language, rhythmic techniques, visual imagery, and overall aesthetic qualities. The research findings provide new data regarding Nurlan Maukenuly's poetic essence and creative work, while also deepening theoretical knowledge concerning artistic explorations, issues of tradition and innovation, and stylization in contemporary Kazakh poetry.