Year after year, Kazakhstan strengthens its leadership in Central Asia not only in terms of gross domestic product but also in the number of reading public. According to international research data, in particular CEOWORLD, Kazakhs read an average of 2.77 books per year.

In the book segment today, three categories lead: educational and children's literature, business and self-development, and fiction. However, in the fiction section relating to the detective genre, more than 60 percent consists of works by foreign authors. About 30 percent accounts for reprints of books by Kemel Tokayev, considered the founder of the Kazakh detective story, and only ten percent for works by other domestic authors.

Several key factors influence this situation.

The first is selection criteria. The share of detective stories in the category of "socially significant literature" does not exceed one to two percent. The second is the small number of authors who regularly write in the detective genre and the limited market.

The domestic school of detective works, founded by Kemel Tokayev, began to revive in 2018 not thanks to state programs, but exclusively thanks to a literary competition annually organized by the "Zan" Media Corporation LLP.

The third factor is the absence of alternative projects. Today in the country at the republican level, apart from the Kemel Tokayev Competition and the "Sert" competition held by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, there are no other similar competitions. The fourth is reader preferences. The mass translation of world detective classics and their presence on bestseller lists have formed in audiences a high interest not in primitive plots, but in intellectual conflicts, psychological thrillers, and political detective stories.

SATISFYING THE DEMAND FOR DETECTIVE STORIES

The Kemel Tokayev Competition for Detective Works is a voluntary private project of the corporation; the jury's decisions cannot be changed by anyone from outside. That is precisely why authors from the most diverse fields participate in it, and new names enter the literary world.

In Kazakhstan, about one billion tenge is allocated annually from the budget for the publication and distribution of socially significant literature under state order. However, the share of detective stories in this volume does not exceed one to two percent. Moreover, the majority of this share consists of translations of world classics and reprints of works by Kemel Tokayev. Due to the small number of regularly held competitions for detective works, the authors who work systematically in this genre can be counted on one's fingers. This is also evident from the composition of the competition's regular participants.

The collection "Shytyrman," in which the management of the "Zan" Media Corporation LLP brought together the best works of four competitions from 2018–2021, confirmed that the detective genre is in demand on Kazakhstan's book market. Unfortunately, this collection, warmly received by readers, was published in a limited print run due to the lack of state support and was distributed only among the authors of the works and libraries, never making it onto the shelves of bookstores.

"A NEW BEGINNING"

"We all know perfectly well that culture is the foundation of the national identity and spirituality of our people. Undoubtedly, a state that has managed to preserve its cultural and spiritual heritage will invariably enjoy high authority," the Head of State has repeatedly emphasized, paying particular attention to supporting culture and art and creating conditions for the development of national literature. A society striving for good always rejoices in good deeds and strives to be at their center.

– The Semipalatinsk region, which can rightly be considered a forge of talents, this time too did not leave masters of the detective genre without support. As you know, such competitive events are held in various places. We decided to present the winners of this year's competition with an unexpected gift. We published fifteen works that passed the initial selection as a separate book entitled "A New Beginning" and presented it to the authors. Thereby we once again proved that we are a land of pioneers. As a preface, we included the memoirs of the partisan writer Kasym Kaisenov about Kemel Tokayev, published in 1988 in the newspaper "Qazaq Adebieti" following a trip to Ukraine. Until now, this text had not been published on the internet. "A New Beginning" will become one of the special features of this year's competition, – stated the akim of the Abai region, Berik Uali, at the award ceremony for the winners of the Kemel Tokayev Competition for Detective Works.

We hope that the new trend will continue in the future.

The winner of the 2026 competition, Adilbek Ybyraiymuly, noted that it was precisely the competition organized by the "Zan" Media Corporation LLP that became the impetus for his interest in writing detective prose.

– Currently, there is no criticism in literature; readers do not express opinions about works. There is no activity. All criticism has turned into one-sided praise. And it is written only by acquaintances, friends, and associates to express their attitude toward the author. Therefore, I perceive participation in the competition as a test of my own potential. I myself participate in various competitions to check the dynamics of my creative work. Having seen the results, I adjust my work. This inspires me. Readers are different. Everyone wants to read works of different genres. We need to change the system of publishing and distributing books. That is why national literature is not selling. There are few publications by individual authors. Only if the state itself intervenes and organizes sales will books begin to be bought. Our bookstore owners sell literature in other languages. If distributors sold at least 20 percent of books published under state order to stores, the demand would immediately become noticeable. The Kemel Tokayev Competition for Detective Works this year was held at a different, higher level.

The akim of the Abai region, Berik Uali, who initiated the holding of the award ceremony in the city of Semey, published a book of 15 works that passed the initial selection of the ninth competition even before the final stage and presented it to the participants. Until now, it was often said that the detective genre is not developed among us, that new books do not come out, and that readers do not see them. If in the future the heads of other regions wish to hold the award ceremony on their own land and continue this tradition, that would be very good, – noted Adilbek Ybyraiymuly.

THE BEST WORKS OF THE NINTH COMPETITION

The jury, chaired by Kurultai deputy, well-known journalist and poet Zhanarbek Ashimzhan, included a veteran of the judicial and legal sphere, the well-known lawyer Bauyrzhan Akhmetov, writer, journalist, and well-known media manager Serik Abikenuly, chairman of the Abai regional branch of the Writers' Union and member of the People's Council of Kazakhstan Merey Kart, and the head of the "Zan" Media Corporation LLP, Dosymbek Utegaliyev. The Grand Prize was awarded to Adilbek Ybyraiymuly ("The White Dress"). The scholar and writer Aldazhar Abilov took first place for his work "The Nurse's Prayer." Second place was shared by Zakira Nurlankyzy ("A Trace on the Brown Belt") and Bolai Berdiyeva ("The Motley Thread").
Third place was awarded to works by Sabyrbek Olzhabai "The Kite," Miras Mukash "The Hook," and Askhat Omirbayev "The Father Who Did Not Wake Up." Incentive prizes were received by Arshyn Nurbakyt ("Roots in the Shadows"), Aruzhan Musatayeva ("The Deceived Dream"), Bakyt Zhaliyeva ("Death in a White Coat"), and Gaisha Mukash ("The Last Bell"). In addition, special prizes from the Abai Regional Court were received by Nurgul Nurbaikyzy ("The Little Witness"), Saya Isa ("The Pianist's Death"), and Bauyrzhan Bakytuly ("The Trap"), while journalist Sulu Bolek was awarded a special prize as "Young Detective Writer" for her work "45 Minutes."

COMPETITION FOR A DETECTIVE NOVELLA

– Next year our unique competition will turn ten years old! We plan to hold the tenth anniversary in a special format. Namely: for the anniversary, a competition will be announced not for a short story, but for a detective novella. Only the winners of the Grand Prize and first place over these nine years will take part in it. That is, the strongest among the strongest will be determined. The prize fund is also planned to be made substantial. We will publish the specific conditions in the coming days in the newspapers "Zan Gazeti" and "Yuridicheskaya Gazeta," as well as on the website zanmedia.kz. Follow our publications! – stated D. Utegaliyev, summing up the ceremonial award ceremony.

The nine-year history of holding the republican Kemel Tokayev Competition for Detective Works has clearly shown one thing: a literary tradition does not take shape on its own. Initiative is needed. Constant organization and support are needed, opportunities for authors and texts for readers are needed. And when all of this continues for several years without interruption, the competition goes beyond its original circle and becomes a literary phenomenon.

The path that began in 2018 reached its ninth milestone in 2026. During this time, the competition entered the literary life of several regions, gave hundreds of works the opportunity to see the light of day, discovered new names, united the best creations in collections, and contributed to the re-establishment of the detective genre's place in the social and literary space. Most importantly, this competition opened the way to perceiving Kemel Tokayev's legacy not as a monument of the past, but as a living tradition continuing in modern Kazakh literature.

Bolai BERDIYEVA, second-place winner:

ABAI'S LEGACY AS THE APPLE OF ONE'S EYE

Fifteen authors of the selected works from various corners of Kazakhstan arrived in the Abai region with inspiration. The event, in which akim of the region Berik Uali, head of the "Zan" Media Corporation LLP Dosymbek Utegaliyev, chairman of the regional court Kairat Shakpantayev, staff of the Abai regional library, and others took part, was held at a high level. Our works of 2026 were collected and published in a whole book. There were many touching moments. In the simplicity of the Semipalatinsk people, one feels the aroma of the Kazakh soul. We visited the Abai Museum. We express boundless gratitude to those who preserve the objects touched by the hands of the great thinker as the apple of their eye. Here there are many people with open souls, pure hearts, comprehensively educated, lofty, deep, and broad.

Gaisha MUKASH, incentive prize winner:

WHEN ENERGY OVERFLOWS

In the summer I saw information about the detective competition on the Facebook page of the editor-in-chief of "Zan Gazeti," Ainur Sembayeva, and decided to try my luck. The goal was to test myself in this genre. If what I wrote turned out to be worthy, I wanted to make a small contribution to the detective genre, which still lags behind in Kazakh literature.

After all, contributions also come in different forms. Unexpectedly, Ainur Sembayeva got in touch and sent an invitation to the award ceremony. It turned out that this was the republican Kemel Tokayev Competition for Detective Works, which had begun nine years earlier. Honestly, I was delighted! I received inspiration. Even before reaching the event, I was already mentally searching for a theme and content for my next story.

So, we arrived in Semey. At the airport we were met by the organizer of the competition – the director of the "Zan" Media Corporation LLP, Dosymbek Utegaliyev, and Ainur Sembayeva, who made great efforts to ensure the event was held at a high level. The akim of the Abai region, Berik Uali, and other champions of literature came to the opening of the competition. In the eyes of the assembled winners and experts, I read only one thing – to serve the country!

Behind the scenes of the "ceremony," I saw the selfless work of many young women and men. I was sincerely glad that the ranks of people who care about the future of our country are growing day by day. We returned home with a feeling of gratitude. Having sharpened our pens, we brought back themes and ideas not for one but for several works. As long as our energy overflows.

Prepared by Yerlik YERZHANULY,
"Zan Gazeti"
Photo: Galiya KALIYEVA,
Ayan KONAROV