A correspondent from Turmush spoke with the craftswoman.
Akylbubu Sharshievna was born on October 9, 1969, in the village of Chok-Tal in the Issyk-Kul district. From childhood, she often spent time with her maternal grandmother, who made traditional Kyrgyz products. It was during this time that Akylbubu acquired her first skills in crafting, which later became an important part of her life.
Currently, Akylbubu Shaikova lives with her family in the village of Saruu. Her husband, Orozbek Bokoev, graduated from an educational institution in the city of Karakol, is a talented artist, and, according to the family, their children have also inherited this ability. The couple married in 1989, and in 1990, they welcomed their first child, Islambek.
The couple has raised eight children: Islambek, Arslandek, Mirlan, Erlan, Nurzat, Bolotbek, Zarina, and Salih. Their only daughter, Zarina, is in the 11th grade. According to her mother, the girl was surrounded by care and attention from her father and brothers from a young age, and now the family is making efforts for her to focus on her studies and successfully continue her education.
Akylbubu Shaikova notes that raising children is both a great responsibility and a great joy. Her mother, who lived with the family for a long time, provided significant help in this regard.
On March 8, 2010, Akylbubu Shaikova was awarded the honorary title "Baatyr Ene." She perceives it not only as an award but also as a symbol of recognition for maternal labor and responsibility.
She began to seriously engage in handicrafts in the 2010s. While managing her household, Akylbubu Shaikova received an order through craftsmen making yurts from the city of Karakol—from Damira, who is involved in yurt production in the "Tolgonai Ene" association. It was from this moment that she began to develop her craft at a professional level at home.
According to her, she possesses almost all types of traditional handicrafts. In her childhood, her children helped her—participating in sewing and decorating items, including making shyrdaks. Today, all of them have grown up and chosen their own life paths. Akylbubu says that she did not receive formal training in the craft and believes that her abilities were passed down from her grandmother.
In 2024, seven women from seven villages in the Jeti-Oguz district united to create a group of craftswomen called "Taberik." The participants produce Kyrgyz traditional items in a modern style and have also mastered the art of tying "elechek." They learned this from Asel Kalkanova, the founder of the "Atalar Izi" project.
Today, the group's products are showcased at fairs and festivals, and workshops are held for tourists. The workshop is located in the village of Jenish in the Jeti-Oguz district, and the products are also sent for sale to specialized stores in the city of Karakol.
In May 2025, thanks to their craft, the group members visited Turkey, where they presented Kyrgyz products for nine days. Part of the products was sold to local buyers. According to the craftswomen, national Kyrgyz products are highly valued abroad.
Akylbubu Shaikova produces items that are in demand among foreign tourists: small shyrdaks, stools, home footwear, embroidered items, panels, and other souvenirs. The prices of her works range from 300 to 25,000 soms. The products are purchased by tourists as well as buyers from Turkey, Korea, and England.
The craftswoman notes that she would like to communicate more with foreign guests and personally tell them about the traditions and secrets of Kyrgyz craftsmanship. In this regard, she has started learning English.
