The Kazakh, a Turkic people, are the second largest Muslim people group of Central Asia. In times past, they may have been the most influential of the various Central Asian ethnic groups. While most of the Kazakh now live in Kazakhstan, they make up less than half of the country's population. Large communities can also be found in Mongolia, Ukraine and Russia, but there are also some who have migrated to Spain and other western countries.
The Kazakhs developed a distinct ethnic identity in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. Several of their clans formed a federation that would provide mutual protection. As other clans joined the federation, its political influence began to take on an ethnic character.
During the nineteenth century, the Russians acquired Central Asia through a steady process of annexation. They eventually claimed the entire territory of Kazakhstan. Tragically, about half of the Kazakh population was killed during the Russian Civil War of the 1920s and 1930s. During this time, many fled to China and Mongolia. Today some of them have wandered even further from home to places like Spain. The governments of Kazakhstan and Spain are very friendly, and this might allow more Kazakhs to migrate to Spain in the coming years.
Most Kazakhs in Spain live in urban centers like Madrid and Barcelona.
Most of the Kazakhs who live in Spain are professionals with a good education. Some are professional musicians, others are architects, etc. Some of them are learning to adjust to being part of two very different cultures and languages.
Because of their nomadic pastoral lifestyle, Kazakhs kept an epic tradition of oral history.
The Kazakhs embraced Islam during the sixteenth century and still consider themselves Muslim today. However, their Islamic practices have been combined with traditional folk religions. Traditional Kazakh folk religion includes beliefs in spirits. They practice animism and ancestor worship. Animism is the belief that non-human objects have spirits. Ancestor worship involves praying and offering sacrifices to deceased ancestors. They also practice various traditional rituals before and after marriage, at birth, and at death.
However, much of their spiritual beliefs were curtailed when they were under the control of the atheistic Soviet Union. To a large degree, Kazakhs forgot much of what they learned about Islam. Today the Kazakhs in Spain have the chance to cultivate their spiritual lives without being forced to adhere to either Islam or atheism.
Kazakhs in Spain need spiritual hunger that will lead them to find the Lord Jesus who satisfies all who seek truth and righteousness.
Pray for Kazakhs in Spain to have the opportunity to become part of the family of God.
Pray for spiritual hunger and thirst among Kazakhs in Spain.
Pray for a disciple-making movement among Kazakhs in Spain that will spread back to Kazakhstan.
Scripture Prayers for the Kazakh in Spain.
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/12599/KZ
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/12599/CA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbBOPMqDKj8
http://www.tumbit.com/news/articles/9877-young-kazakhs-pursue-their-dreams-in-spain.html
http://astanatimes.com/2013/02/president-nazarbayevs-visit-to-spain-advances-political-economic-ties/
http://www.mylifeelsewhere.com/compare/spain/kazakhstan
| Profile Source: Keith Carey |
