AYTYSH

AYTYSH, a genre of the Bashk. folklore. A contest in the form of a dialogue between the lit. artists (usually – in poetry, less often – in prose). Usually performed to the dumbyra musical instrument during folk festivals and yiyins (assemblies). Many A. are featured with an allegory. The A. poetic form is present in many epics and kubairs, for example, the dialogues between Nerkes and Haubana (Akbuzat), and Khabrau­ iyrau and Toktamysh-khan (Idukay and Muradym), etc. Fairy tales and kalamas include such dialogues in a prosaic form as well. Famous masters of A. are Baik­aydar, Kubagush-sesen et al. As remembered by R.F.Fakhretdinov, in  autumn 1894,  in Ufa, an A. took place between Akmulla and M.I.Umetbayev; in 1917, in Orenburg — between Sh.Babich and Chenekay. Contemporary storytellers often turn to the traditions of this genre. Many Turkic peoples have the A. lit. genre as well.