• Learning Bashkortostan folklore history

Folklore studies include three approaches: 1) to collect and systematize the works of ethnic art, 2) to process it scientifically and give back to its creator by publishing it, 3)scientific research on oral, song, musical (instrumental), choreographic, drama and other kinds of collective art works.

The main sections of F.S.: oral ethnic art studies traditional genres, ethnic musical studies focus on the musical component of folklore, ethnical linguistics – on language and its interaction with folklore, etc. There are different approaches (schools, theories) in folklore studies: mythological school, Russian school, historical school, Finnish school, migratory theory, etc.

Bashkirs were first mentioned by travelers. According to the written sources preserved to the present days, folklore of Bashkirs – native people of Bashkortostan has come to the notice of different travelers, local historians, writers, musical experts since X century AD. Arabic travelers, such as Akhmad ibn-Fadlan (X c.), Abu-Khamid al-Garnati (XIII c.), Makhmud Kashgari (XI c.) ancient Turkic lexicographer, travelers from the Western Europe, such as Friar Julian, P. Carpine, W.Rubruck (XIII c.) collected valuable information about Bashkirs. Researchers focused more on Bashkir ethnic art after Bashkortostan was connected to Russia. Bashkir folklore patterns are described in works of Holland travelers, such as I. Massa, N, Vitsen (XVII c.) Geographical department of the Academy of Science and Arts (Saint-Petersburg) organized academical expeditions (1968–74) to the territory of Bashkortostan in XVIII when the ethnographical samples were first collected. Russian researchers V.N. Tatishchev (1686–1750), I.I. Lepekhin (1740–1802), I.Georgi (1729–1802) took part in registering the works of Bashkir oral art. Their notes of the journey reflected socialand economic aspects of Bashkir life (ethnic population, household chores, culture, customs, daily life) and life of Maris, Russians, Tatars, Udmurts, Chuvashes and other peoples of Bashkortostan. “Notes of the journey to different subjects of Russia” edition consisted of 4 volumes by I.I. Lepekhin, written based on the materials of expedition throughout Russia organized by the Academy of Science in 1768–1772, presents much information about Bashkir lifestyle, rituals, traditions and oral art. The work describes Bashkir sabantuy holiday, wedding, ethnic medicine, burial rituals, beliefs connected with Toratau and Devichya mountains. The book also contains valuable information about Bashkir musical folklore. I.I. Lepekhin describes the Bashkir performance manner of historical song in detail. V.N. Tatishchev, one of the founders of Russian historical and ethnographical science studied the rituals and customs of Bashkirs during the expedition to the Urals. Later he described the ritual of kidnapping a girl which was common for Bashkirs in his work “History of Russia”. I.G. Georgi’s participation in the expedition of P.S. Pallas shows interesting information about the songs, musical instruments, wedding ritual of Bashkirs, describes senlyau (a bride’s lamentation) in details in his work called “Description of all the people of the Russian state”. Russian geographical society became a basis to found the Ethnographical department in the 1940’s. There was a plan with implied steps to collect ethnographical, folklore, demographical and anthropological materials during the academical expeditions. Sanitary-hygienic/ economical and statistical, geographical reviews of regions and districts briefly described people living there. “Household‑statistical, ethnographic and industrial description of Ogenburgskaya district” (1859) by V.M. Cheremshanskiy was prepared for the contest program of Ministry of State Property and published in Ufa. The author focuses on the district history and tends to show the independent culture and lifestyle of each folk, he writes about cultural borrowings in agricultural practice, crafts, organization of households and houses, he also describes the culture and daily activities of Bashkirs, Russians, Tatars, Chuvashes, Maris, Mordovians and Udmurts. The collected materials about Bashkir, Kazakh, Russian and other Bashkortostan people’s folklore and ethnography became a basis for “Wolves hunt” (30‑s), “Bashkir mermaid” (retold “Zayatulyak menen Khyukhylu” epic; 1843), “Mayna” (1846), “Torpidity” (1861), “Bashkirs. Ethnographical sketch, description of the Bashkirs and their lifestyle” (1862) and other works by V.I. Dal; for the publications by R.G. Ignatyev, such as “Stories, fairytales and songs preserved in Tatar literature manuscripts and oral memory of foreign Muslims from Orenburgskiy region”, “Notes of Orenburgskiy department of Imperial Russian geographical society” (iss. 3, 1875); for “Monuments of ancient findings in Ufimskaya region” in “Handbook of Ufimskaya region” (1883), etc.; for works by M.V. Lossiyevskiy ( mag. “Orenburgskiy listok”: in 1876 (№24) – “Bashkir legend about crescent” (description of Bashkir stories about the moon), in 1881 – “Fragments from unpublished Arabic and Tatar chronicles” (including “Shezhere of Yurmaty tribe”.

S.G. Rybakov is one of the main figures in musical folklore studies development: he collected many musical art works of Bashkirs, Tatars, Tyeptyars and Nagaybeks during his expeditions to Bashkortostan and other Ural and Volga regions and published them in “Music and songs of the Ural Muslims and their household description” collection (Spb, 1897). It is the first work to characterize musical folklore of Bashkirs, Tatars, Tyeptyars due to the special features of their history and lifestyle. In addition, the author offered his classification of Bashkir musical folklore, note sheets of many Bashkir songs and naigryshes which are very valuable nowadays. T.S. Belyayev published “Kuz-kurpyach”, an epic story translated into Russian in 1812 in Kazan. A number of democratic aristocracies interested in folklore of local people were gathering together by the 1830’s in Orenburgskaya region, which historically includes Bashkir settlements. In particular, the poet-revolutionist P.M. Kudryashev lived and created his works in Orenburg. He was one of the first artists to publish two Bashkir historical songs in Russian in “Vestnik Evropy” journal in XIX. In 1826 he published another interesting work – “Prejudice and superstitions of Bashkirs” which claims than different superstitions are common for Bashkirs. A prominent scientist V.I. Dal registered the second variant of “Zayatulyak menen Khyukhylyu” (“Zayatulyak and Khyukhylu”) Bashkir epic in the 1830’s and published it named as “Bashkir mermaid” in 1843 in the 1st issue of “Moskvityanin” journal.

In the second part of XIX Russian scientists became even more interested in collecting Bashkir folklore. I.P. Pokrovskiy, official of Orenburgskiy department of Russian geographical society, studied heritage of Bashkir people. In 1870 he published “Collection of Bashkir and Tatar songs”. Local historian R.G. Ignatyev was a prominent figure in Bashkir folklore science history. His article “Stories, fairytales and songs preserved in Tatar literature manuscripts and oral memory of foreign Muslims from Orenburgskiy region” distinguishes main genres of Bashkir ethnic song and characterizes them. The scientist focused on historical songs about Salavat Yulayev as his works showed the plot of ethnic songs about Salavat and described their genre peculiarities. Bashkir folklore was being collected by Bashkir scientists as well: M.A. Kuvatov, M.I. Umetbayev, B.G. Yuluyev, M.Baishev, etc., Mordovian folklore – by A.F. Yurtov, Mari folklore – by G.G. Karamzin, T.A. Evseyev, etc. Works of M.A. Burangulov, M. Sultanov, F.K. Tuykin, Z. Ummati, etc. were published in early XX. The collecting activities of the researchers and local educators in XIX c. contributed in the systematization and publication of the oral art texts. At the same time the ethnographical materials were published in “Vestnik” of Russian geographical society, “Izvestiya” of Society of Archeology, History and Ethnography at Kazan University, in “Izvstiya of Ufa eparchy”, “Gubernskiye vedomosti”, etc.

Foreign scientists also collected folklore materials of the Ural and Volga regions in late XIX. In 1883 Finno-Ugrian Society was founded in Helsinki. It studied the Finnish and Ugrian people lived in the Volga and Urals regions (some Finnish scientists considered these regions to be the territory where Finno-Ugrian ancestors might have lived). They studied different issues, such as origins of Finno-Ugrian people, their cultural interaction in the past. The society systematically sent scientific expeditions to study language, culture, daily life, oral art of relative folks from a comparative-historical point of view. Finnish scientists, such as V. Porkka, A. Genetz, G. Ramstedt, H. Paasonen took part in it. In 1887 A. Genetz went to the territories of modern RB and Sverdlovskaya region to study Eastern Maris. In 1902 the materials about the mountain Marts collected by G. Ramstedt were published. H. Paasonen published the materials about Mari oral art. Hungarian Academy of Science at the same time was also collecting folklore materials. B. Munkácsi was studying Udmurt ethnography in 1885–86. In 1905–06 Finnish scientist Y. Wichmann and his wife, Hungarian scientist Y. Wichmann came to these lands with the expedition. With the help of local teachers, they collected the samples of different folklore genres including epic texts and materials about applied visual arts and ethnography. D. Mészáros collected ethnographical, folklore and Bashkir language field materials (the collection is in the Ethnographical Museum in Budapest).

In late XIX – early XX Russian scientists were collecting and publishing many fairytale heritages of Bashkir people. Thus, in 1877–1907 a prominent linguist and folklore studies expert A.G. Bassonov registered hundreds of fairytales in Bashkir villages. They were named “Bashkir ethnic fairytales” and published in 1941 in Russian by Professor N.K. Dmitriyev; in 1912 M.P. Los published 8 Bashkir ethnic fairytales in the 5th, 7th, and 9th issues of “Vestnik of Orenburgskiy education district”. In 1914 A.K. Zelenin presented the texts of 12 Bashkir fairytales in “Fairytales told by Bashkirs” section of “Great Russian fairytales of Permskaya region” book. In early XX Mansur Sultanov and Sultan Gabyashi, two professional musicians from the “Ural Muslims” became well-known. They also collected Bashkir and Tatar musical folklore. In 1916 Sultanov published a part of the songs that he had registered. It was named “Bashkir and Tatar motives. Registered by M. Sultanov, professor in Saratovskaya conservatory”. It showed a typical repertoire of instrumental ethnic music of that time. S. Gabyashi art activities took place mainly during the Soviet period.  In 1905–07, 1912 Ethnographical department of Russian Museum organized the expeditions to Permskaya, Orenburgskaya and Ufimskaya regions. During these expeditions S.I. Rudenko was collecting materials from Bashkirs. It resulted in a work consisting of 2 parts. The 1st part (Physical type of Bashkirs in “Notes of Imperial Russian geographical society”. V.43. Iss.1.1916) focuses on ethnical history of Bashkirs; the 2nd part (Bashkir household in “Notes of Russian geographical society”. V.43. Iss.2. 1925)focuses on detailed characteristics of the household forms, daily life, material and spiritual culture of Bashkirs around the turn of XIX–XX.

Song folklore of Bashkirs, Mordovians, Udmurts, Chuvashes was collected and studied by Austrian musical expert, Robert Lach. Scientific works of V.I. Filonenko, such as “At the foreign pagans of Ufimskaya region” (1914), “Bashkirs” (1915) focuses on historical, ethnographical, folklore and language issues of Bashkirs, Maris, Udmurts, Chuvashes. G.I. Komissarov (1883–1969), a prominent Chuvash historian, ethnographer, folklore science expert, teacher and social activist, was among the collectors and researchers of Chuvash oral ethnic art on the territory of Bashkortostan in early XX. G.I. Komissarov was a man of a varied attainments and thus he participated in studying history and ethnography of Chuvashes in Bashkortostan. He published some articles on Chuvash ethnography in the journals of Ufimskaya and Orenburgskaya regions in these days, one of the articles was about weddings. Following the example of N.I. Ashmarin and N.V. Nikolskiy, G.I. Komissarov started to work hard on collecting historical and ethnographical folklore materials about Chuvashes from the Southern Urals. In order to attract smart and educated people to this work he elaborated and published a “Program to collect information about Chuvashes” in 1916. P.A. Petrov–Turinge (1887–1943) has done much to advance history, ethnography and folklore studies of Chuvash people. He was a local historian, researcher, teacher and social activist who also took part in collecting Chuvash folklore. He worked on compiling the dictionary of local herbs, registered Chuvash ethnic songs and signs. In the 20–30’s of XX a popular composer and folklore science expert S.M. Maksimov visited Bashkiria. His song collections of 1924 and 1964 evidence the fact as they include several dozens of song samples registered from the Urals Chuvashes. In the 80–90’s of XX musical expert A.A. Osipov was collecting ethnic songs. At the same time ethnographer I.G. Petrov started studying ethnography and folklore and he keeps working nowadays as well.

A new stage of folklore studies development started after the Revolution of 1917. Academical center became a basis for Society of studying Bashkiria founded in 1922. S.G. Mryasov, K.G. Gabitov, G.F. Vildanov, S. Salimov, etc. became its members. “Yany yul” (“New way”), “Sesen” (“Sesen; see “Agidel”), “Belem” journals, “Bashkort aymagy” publishing house issued articles about folklore and samples of ethnic art. Collections of folklore materials are published: “Borongolarzyn huzzere” (1924; “Words of ancestors”), “Bashkort yomaktary” (1927; “Bashkir riddles”, “Khalyk ezebiyetenen mekelder hem yomaktar” (1930; “Proverbs and riddles from ethnic literature”). In the 1920’s – early 30’s the attitude to folklore was ambivalent, the scientists discussed the most relevant folklore science issues (publications by Burangulov, S. Kulibay, M. Marat, I. Nasyri, etc.). Folklore studies development as a separate branch of science is connected with the foundation of Bashkir RI of ethnic culture (see ISER URC RAS). Collecting folklore materials was organized on a regular basis, folklore studies are being taught at colleges and universities. G. Amantay published a manual for folklore collectors in 1936 “Folklore materialyn yiynau buyinsa kyskasa kullanma” (“Short manual to collect folklore materials”). In 1938 folklore section at the institute was founded, – it connects the activities of – G. Amiri, Burangulov, G. Salyam, M. Khay, K.K. Khammatov, etc. Periodical press publish epic stories, such as “Akbuzat”, “Idukay menen Muradym”, “Yulay menen Salauat”; collections, such as “Bashkort mekeldere” (1936; “Bashkort proverbs”), “Bashkort sovet khalyk yuirzary” (“Bashkir soviet ethnic songs”), “Bashkort khalyk ekiettere” (“Bashkir ethnic fairytales”; both in 1939), “Bashkir ethnic fairytales” (1941).

The scientific expedition of 1938 headed by N.P. Kolpakova was the start of systematic collecting Russian folklore of Bashkortostan. A part of the collected materials was included into “Lyrical Russian wedding” collection and another part is in the scientific archive of RC RAS.

During the Great Patriotic War some samples of Bashkir folklore were published in the following collections: “Batyrzarturahynda epos” (1943; “Epic about Bashkirs”), “1812 yulgy Vatan hugyshynda bashkort atlylary” (1944; “Bashkir riders during the Patriotic war of 1812”), “Salauat batyr” (1945; “Salavat‑batyr”), etc. Also, the modern ethnic art works registered during the war were published: “Batyrzar yiry” (1943; “Batyrs’ song”), “Vatan hugysgy yirzary” (1944; “Patriotic war song”), “Hugysh folklory” (1944; Military folklore”), etc. The scientists from the Institute of ethnic art AS of Ukrainian SSR evacuated to BASSR (M.Y. Beregovskiy, V.S. Ilyin, P.S. Lysenko, M.M. Plisetskiy, etc.) organized the collection and study of Ukrainian folklore. Music, folklore and religious beliefs of Maris from Bashkortostan were studied by T.D. Shebeok (the USA), F. Inegmann, etc. Their field materials were the discussions with Ivan Yevskiy (Ivan Ivashkin from Baymurzino village, Mishkinskiy district, BASSR) who had to move to the USA after he was a prisoner of war during the Second World War (1939–45) and some published researchers. The collection of Bashkortostan Russian folklore was continued in 1947 and 1949 by the participants of a folklore expedition headed by E.V. Pomerantseva, organized by BRI of history, language and literature and Lomonosov MSU. There were young folklore studies experts from Moscow (V. Anikin, N. Polishchuk, N. Savushkina) and Ufa (L. Kalyakina, N. Bachinskaya, K. Rakhimov) among the participants of the expedition. The collected materials were published in “Russian oral ethnic art in Bashkiria” book (Ufa, 1957).

Folklore of other BASSR people was studied by special RI of the corresponding autonomous regions. Udmurt RI of socialist culture organized a number of folklore linguistic expeditions to study Udmurts from BASSR; the materials are in the archive of Udmurt institute of history, language and literature of Ural branch of RAS (Izhevsk; see Udmurt folklore); Mari RI of ethnic socialist culture (Yoshkar-Ola) studied ethnic art of the Eastern Mari, V.M. Vasiliev made a great contribution to the studies. The participants of the complex expedition by AS USSR researched the Bashkortostan folklore as well. Folk knowledge and signs of weather and harvest, etc. of Bashkirs, Belarusians, Latvians, Maris, Russians, Tatars, Ukrainians, Chuvashes, Estonians were studied by A.S. Bezhkovich, other kinds of materials and spiritual culture of Finno-Ugrian peoples (Komis, Maris, Mordovians, Udmurts), mutual influence and interaction of the Volga and Urals regions were studied by V.N. Belitser. Dialectology of Russian language, folklore and ethnography of Eastern Slavs were studied by D.K. Zelenin. The organization of Bashkir branch of AS USSR in 1951 was a new development stage for the activities aimed to collect and publicize the oral ethnic art and scientific folklore research. The publication of “Bashkort khalyk izhady” collection in 3 volumes (1954-59) is a significant and textual scientific advance. The ramifications of the Bashkir folklore studies were published in monographs of A.N. Kireyev “Bashkort khalkynyn epic komartkylary” (1961 “Epic monuments of Bashkir people”), A.I. Kharisov “Bashkort khalkynyn ezebi mirasy (18-19 byuattar)” [1965; in Rus. trans. “Literature heritage of Bashkir people (18-19 centuries)”]. In the late 50’s they started the large collection of Bashkir folklore in Kurganskaya, Sverdlovskaya, Chelyabinskay, Orenburgskaya, Samarskaya, Saratovskaya, Permskaya regions (headed by A.N. Kireyev, S.A. Galin, F.A. Nadrshina). At the same period Kireyev school of Bashkir folklore studies was founded. Its further development is connected with the names of his students (S.A. Galin, F.A. Nadrshina, N.D. Shunkarov, M.K. Mingazhetdinov, A.M. Suleymanov, M.A. Mambetov, N.T. Zaripov), and researchers successfully followed the scientific traditions (B.S. Baimov, R.S. Suleymanov, R.A. Sultangareyeva, G.R. Khusainova, G.V. Yuldybayeva, A.M. Khakimyanova, etc.). The Bashkir scientists were collecting the materials and simultaneously were researching the relevant issues of ethnic art, which resulted in the publications of monographs about a number of Bashkir folklore genres: S.A. Galin “Years and songs” (1967) and “Song poetry of Bashkir people: some issues of the song genre” (1979); F.A. Nadrshina “Word of people” (1983), “Folk memory” (1986, 2006), “Lore and legends of Bashkirs tell the history of people (Bashkir ethnic lore and legends: historical roots, specific of genre) (2011), “Bashkir historical lore and legends” (2016); M.M. Sagitov “Ancient Bashkir kubairs” (1987) and “Mythological and historical basis of Bashkir ethnic epic” (2009); A.M. Suleymanov “Spesific genre features of Bashkir everyday life fairytales” (1990), “Bashkir ethnic everyday life fairytales: plot repertoire and poetics” (1994), “Reality in fairytales” (1997), R.S. Suleymanov “Pearls of the Urals ethnic art” (1995); R.A. Sultangareyeva “Bashkir wedding ritual folklore” (1994), “Family everyday life ritual folklore of Bashkir people” (1998), “Life of people in rituals” (2006); B.S. Baimov “Al garmunyn eyt takmagyn” (1993), “Bashkir ethnic takmaks” (2001); G.R. Khusainova “Poetica of Bashkir ethnic magic fairytale” (2000), “Bashkir magic fairytale: poetics and textuality” (2014), R.F. Ryazapova “Mythological basis of Bashkir epic monuments” (2006), S.R. Shakurova “Bashkir ethnic epic “Ural-batyr”: archive original and its textual analysis” (2007); G.V. Yuldybayeva “Plot and style of “Ural-batyr” epic” (2007); A.M. Khakimyanova “Lyrical songs of Bashkirs: Poetics. Conceptual sphere” (Ufa, 2019); N.T. Zaripova “Bashkir bogatyr fairytales” (2008); N.M. Sirazhetdinova “Song art of Chelyabinsk Bashkirs” (2018); O.V. Akhmadrakhimova “Comparative study of the variants and literature versions of “Zayatulyak and Khyukhylu” Bashkir ethnic epic” (2018).

Bashkir state university started organizing folklore expeditions for students: on the basis of the Chair of Russian literature and folklore since 1961 (headed by L.G. Barag, B.G. Akhmetshin, L. Bryantseva, I.G. Kulsarina, etc.); on the basis of Chair of Bashkir literature and folklore since 1965 (headed by Kireyev, Mingazhetdinov, etc.); on the basis of Chair of Tatar philology since 1966 (headed by R.M. Mukhamatzyanov, I. Fazlutdinov); folklore funds were established. Later the folklore studies experts from Sterlitamak state pedagogical university headed by I.Y. Karpukhin, experts from Birks state pedagogical university and others joined the work. Udmurt folklore materials in 1974–75 were being collected by Hungarian ethnic musical expert L. Vikar and linguist G. Bereczki, who revealed the Turkic impact on the melodies used by Udmurts from Bashkortostan. Traditional lifestyle of the Latvians from Arkhangelskiy district, their use of native language was studied by the complex scientific expedition of Institute of language and literature N.A. Andrei Upit AS Latvian USSR, RILL of Bashkir branch of AS USSR, BSU and BSPI. J. Torma since 1984 has conducted field research in Abzelilovskiy, Beloretskiy, Davlekanovskiy, Zilairskiy, Iglinskiy, Kugarchinskiy, Meleuzovskiy, Uchalinskiy, Khaybullinskiy, Chishminskiy districts of BASSR. He wrote about Bashkir dialectology, magical elements used in Bashkir ethnic medicine, beliefs connected with the moon, traditions of hunting with a golden eagle. The issue of common origin of Bashkirs and Hungarians was also studied byHungarian linguist I. Kongur Mandoky. Traditional material culture of Finno-Ugrian people, Maris of Bashkortostan in particular, was described by Finnish researcher I. Lehtinen (Museum of Cultures, Finland, Helsinki). In 1987 she worked together with the experts of RILL Bashkir branch of AS USSR in Durtulinskiy, Kaltasinskiy and Mishkinskiy districts BASSR studying the ethnography of Eastern Maris. Lehtinen has collected a significant number of exhibits for the Museum of Culture in Finland, Helsinki; in 1991, 1997-98 she studied Maris and Udmurts of Bashkortostan, participated in the ethnography conferences in Ufa.

Musical folklore of Bashkortostan peoples is also studied in Ufa college of arts. In 1990 Mari RI of language, literature and history organized folklore expeditions to the districts of RB where Maris settled; the scientists from Chuvash RI of humanities started to collect and study Chuvash folklore of Bashkortostan more intensively. In 1991 The International expedition organized by Udmurt regional museum of local history, Estonian national museum and Ethnographic museum in Budapest studied Udmurts of Burayevskiy and Katlasinskiy districts of Bashkortostan. Hungarian researcher A Kerezhi working within the expedition collected real findings, information about lifestyle and daily activities, traditional beliefs and ritual culture of the ethnographical group. The Department of the Urals Peoples and the Museum of archeology and ethnography USC RAS (current Institute of Ethnological Studies) determined the ethnological researches development of many regional peoples including Chuvashes, Tatars, Ukrainians, Latvians, Germans, Poles, Estonians. Bashkortostan peoples are still being studied by foreign researchers. Historical and modern conditions of Mordovians, Udmurts and Maris of Bashkortostan are studied by Finnish demographer S. Lallukka. Finno-Ugrian Bashkortostan peoples were studied by the expedition of Estonian art academy (headed by K. Viires) in 1999. She worked together with Estonian ethnical musical expert K. Magi, English folklore studies expert D. Ropper from the University of Sheffield (Great Britain),ethnographers J.L. Russelot and V. Grahammer from the Five Continents Museum in Munich (Germany). Ukrainian history and culture of Bashkortostan in the post-soviet period are studied by Ukrainian scientists - S. Didenko, T. Klinchenko, S. Reznichenko, T.D. Kramarchuk. Field research of Udmurt life in Bashkortostan was conducted by folklore studies expert M. Metsvahi in 2003 (University of Tartu, Estonia), master student K. Makela from The University of Helsinki, in 2008 an ethnographical expedition headed by Z. Nagy from the University of Pécs (B. Machai, one of the expedition participants continued to study Udmurt ethnography in Tatyshlinskiy district in 2012–13). An ethnographical movie about Bashkortostan Udmurts was shot in 2013 by French and Estonian researchers E. Toulouze and L. Niglas.

Around the turn of XX–XXI the works of Bashkir folklore studies experts became more popular in the international scientific society, and translations and publications of the oral ethnic art works in foreign languages became more common. F.A. Nadrshina was to start this priority scientific field of work. She selected and published the samples of Bashkir songs, epics, non-fairytale prose, aphoristic and other genres of Bashkir folklore in three languages (Bashkir, Russian, English) (1995, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2015). There were certain publications of Bashkir fairytales, songs, epic abroad before. But it was the first time to publish them as a collection. In 2005 “Ural-batyr” epic was published again in the Bashkir, Russian, English languages and in 2013 it was published in three books: in Bashkir and Russian (translated by A. Khakimov), Bashkir and English (translated by Z.A. Rakhimova), Bashkir and French (translated by R.K. Garipov) headed by A.M. Suleymanov. “Ural-batyr” epic was also published in Turkish (1996, translated by G. Ibragimov, T. Ergun), Abkhazian (2002, translated by M.T. Lasuria), German (2006, translated by A. Taysina), Chuvash (2008, translated by N.V. Dmitriyeva, Hebrew (2016, translated by R. Sadykova), Yakut (2018, translated by A.A. Vasiliyeva, M.S. Vinokurova, Y.S. Gerasimova at al.), Japanese (2019, translated by Sakai Hiroki). Many folklore works of Bashkir people were published in the Turkish language in Turkey. A.M. Suleymanov and F.A Nadrshina participated “Literature texts anthology of the Turkic world” project in two volumes, “Literature history of the Turkic world” in 35 volumes.

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Folklore research is conducted by the experts from Institute of history, language and literature, Bashkir state university, Bashkir pedagogical state university, Ufa institute of arts. Government programs, such as “Bashkortostan peoples” for 2003–2012, “Revival and development of Bashkir people”, “Program to study, encourage and develop folklore of peoples of Bashkortostan Republic” for 2003–2011, Government programs to preserve, study and develop the languages of peoples in Bashkortostan Republic for 2000–2005, 2006–2010, “Regional objective program to preserve, study and develop the languages of people in Bashkortostan Republic for 2012–2016”, etc. stimulate scientific research works. In order to establish a system of state support for Bashkir ethnical originality and ethnic self-awareness preservation and development in RF subjects (according to population census 2002 data, 27% of Bashkirs live outside RB) RB Government upheld the State program for 2008–2017 called “Bashkirs of the Russian Federation”. The government took measures to support ethnic national development in Bashkortostan, namely, to develop basic education taught in native languages, national culture, literature and art, mass media. Foundation of national‑cultural centers and historical and cultural centers aimed to preserve the traditions, develop ethnic languages and culture of regional peoples, find and restore historical architectural monuments became an important thrust of ethnic policy in the region.

Republican center of folk arts and House of Friendship of Nations were established in the region (since 1995). In 2000 Assembly of the peoples was founded, it includes – The World Qoroltai of the Bashkirs (congress), Kanash (convention) of the Chuvashes of RB, Synod of the Russians of Bashkortostan, Congress of the Tatars of Bashkortostan, Assembly of Finno-Ugrian peoples, etc. They regularly organize conventions, holidays and festivals of ethnic cultures, scientific forums dedicated to international relationships and preservation of the traditional culture of Bashkortostan peoples.

The experience of Bashkortostan is shown at the presentations of the Republic of Bashkortostan in UNESCO headquarters in March 2008 and October 2013 to be a unique example of international and inter-confessional cooperation and tolerance.