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5 som of Kyrgyzstan currency with the face of Bübüsara Beyshenalieva. Photo By National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic –

10 Most Famous People from Kyrgyzstan   

Kyrgyzstan or the Kyrgyz Republic is a landlocked, mostly mountainous country in Central Asia. Its capital, which is the largest city, is Bishkek. It is a sparsely populated country with about 33 people per square kilometer of land area.   

Kyrgyzstan was known under Russian and Soviet rule as Kirgiziya. The country was conquered by Russian forces in the 19th century, making it a constituent or union republic of the U.S.S.R until its independence on August 31, 1991.  

The people are friendly, and the country is safe and beautiful to visit. Here are the 10 most famous people from Kyrgyzstan. 

1. Manas 

Statue of Manas in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Photo By Buzancar –

Manas is a 10th-century legendary hero of the Kyrgyz people. He was a warrior who united Kyrgyzstan and is undoubtedly the most popular folk hero in the country.  

He is valued as their sacred ancient forefather and his name is everywhere. There are streets, statues, universities, radio stations, national parks, and many other things that are named after him. Even Kyrgyzstan’s main airport is Manas International Airport.  

One can visit his final resting place, Ala-Too Mountain, in the northwestern city of Talas. There is also a Manas Ordo, a historical park and museum built in his honor.  

The Manas legend goes to the heart of their spiritual identity and is a symbol of their nationalism and culture. 

2. Bübüsara Beyshenalieva  

5 som of Kyrgyzstan currency with the face of Bübüsara Beyshenalieva. Photo By National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic –

Bübüsara Beyshenalieva, simply known as Bübüsara, was the first great Kyrgyz ballerina. She was born on 15th September 1926 in Vorontsovka, (now Tash-Döbö), Kyrgyzstan.  

In 1944, Bübüsara became the prima ballerina of the Kyrgyz ballet. Later in life, she became a ballet teacher and professor at the Kyrgyz National Ballet School. She died on 10th May 1973 at the age of 43. 

Bübüsara appears on their currency, the Kyrgyz 5 som note, and her statue is in Bishkek near the Kyrgyz opera and ballet theatre. 

3. Chinghiz Aitmatov 

Chinghiz Torekulovich Aitmatov was an author who wrote novels and short stories. He wrote in mainly Russian, but also Kyrgyz. He was born on 12th December 1928 in Sheker and was one of the best literature figures in Kyrgyzstan. 

Chinghiz gave a voice to his country’s people and even became the first ambassador for Kyrgyzstan, to the European Union, NATO, and UNESCO. 

He died on 10th June 2008 at 79 years old in Nuremberg, Germany. He was buried in Ata-Beyit cemetery, in Koy-Tash village, Alamüdün District, Chüy Region, Kyrgyzstan.  

4. Salamat Sadikova  

Salamat Sadikova is a folk singer and the head of the coordinating council for the El-Ene (Mother Nation) Party in Kyrgyzstan. She was born on 28th September 1956 in Kyzyl Jol, Batken, Kyrgyzstan. 

Salamat is widely regarded as a national treasure and is often referred to as “The Voice of Kyrgyzstan”. She sings lyrical songs of the Kyrgyz people and accompanies herself on the Kyrgyz lute, called komuz.  

Over the years, she has received numerous awards, among them the title People’s Artist of Kyrgyzstan, and “Honored Artist of the Republic of Kazakhstan”. She was also the winner of the State prize of Toktogul, and she was the owner of the title of World’s Master of Music, Korea.  

Salamat is a rare artist who can transform the simplest music into something magical. 

5. Roza Otunbayeva  

Roza Otunbayeva. Photo By U.S. Department of State –

Roza Isakovna Otunbayeva is a Kyrgyz diplomat and politician who served as the President of Kyrgyzstan from 7th April 2010 to 1st December 2011. She was the first female Central Asian head of state.  

She was born on 23rd August 1950 in Frunze, today’s Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Before becoming president, she had served her country as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister. 

Roza was her country’s first ambassador to the US and Canada and also the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. She has won many awards and honors over the years. 

Since 2022, Roza has been serving as United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. 

6. Kasym Tynystanov 

Kasym Tynystanov was a prominent scientist, linguist, politician, and poet. He was born on 10th September 1901 in the village of Chyrpykty, Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan.  

Kasym greatly contributed to the development of Kyrgyz soil science, botany, zoology, economics, and agriculture. He headed the Kyrgyz Research Institute of Culture and he contributed to the Language, Literature, and Art. 

The Kyrgyz people did not have a written language but had a very rich oral folklore. Such epics as Manas were extremely popular among the people and Kasym contributed to grammar by creating terminological dictionaries on seven subjects. 

He was arrested on ungrounded political accusations and executed on 6th November 1938. He is featured on the Kyrgyz 10 som note. 

7. Samal Yeslyamova 

Samal Ilyaskyzy Yeslyamova is an award-winning film actress. She is recognized internationally for her role in the film Ayka which won awards for Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival in 2018 and the Nika National Film Awards 2021 in Russia.  

In the film, she acts as an immigrant worker who, driven by poverty, is forced to leave her child in the hospital.  

Samal was born on 1st September 1984 in Petropavl, Kazakhstan. Her dream field was journalism but she became an actress. 

8. Mirlan Murzayev 

Mirlan Abdraimovich Murzayev is a Kyrgyzstani professional footballer who plays as a forward for the Uzbekistan Super League club, Navbahor Namangan, and the Kyrgyzstan national team. 

He was born on 29th March 1990 in Kochkor-Ata, Kyrgyzstan. Mirlan has appeared 50 times for the country’s national team since 2009 and has scored 15 goals for the team. 

While playing for FC Dordoi Bishkek in May 2015, Murzayev became the 17th player to score 100 goals in Kyrgyzstan League and Cup matches. 

9. Salizhan Sharipov 

Salizhan Sharipov. Photo By NASA –

Salizhan Shakirovich Sharipov is a Kyrgyzstani cosmonaut (retired) plus co-author and investigator for the Advanced Diagnostic Ultrasound in Microgravity project. He was born on 24th August 1964 in Osh, Kyrgyzstan but is now a Russian citizen. 

He has been to space twice, the first time in 1998 he launched from the U.S. as an astronaut, and in 2004 from Russia as a cosmonaut, where he conducted two career spacewalks lasting a total of 10 hours and 34 minutes. 

10. Aisuluu Tynybekova  

Aisuluu Tynybekova is a freestyle wrestler and the first woman to wrestle for Kyrgyzstan in the Olympics. She was born on 4th May 1993 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.  

She started her international wrestling career in the year 2009. She has won 11 gold, 6 silver, and 5 Bronze medals in various competitions during her career.