Abai Kunanbayev  was a Kazakh poet, philosopher, musician, public figure, and educator. He is considered the founder of Kazakh written literature and its first classic, as well as a cultural reformer in the spirit of rapprochement with European culture based on enlightened Islam.

Abai was one of the first Kazakh writers to actively use prose in his works, expanding the genre boundaries of Kazakh literature. In his works, Abai Kunanbayev expressed deep thoughts on national identity, love for the homeland, nature, and human values.