Sep152013
Jumabai
Sunday, September 15th, 2013 at 8:30 pm by Gulnaz (for Papa)My friend Jumabai Sydykov died on 11 September at home. He was in his 80th year. We buried him the next day beside his father under the apricot tree hill. A great many people came, from Talas and Nurzhan and Aulie-Ata, some on foot.
I sat next to him on many days. I will say this about him: he never played the akyn in front of the bees. They liked him. They sat on his hat. The day before he died he asked for a spoon of honey and said: "Mamat, this is the last season." I said, be quiet. He laughed.
I put a jar on the grave. The bees will find it.
Mamat aga, thank you for the jar. Grandfather said you were the only person who did not talk when he was composing.
He was a teacher of us all, Mamat Tologonovich. I am glad he had a neighbour like you.