Introduction. Most Iranian Kazakhs have settled in Iran's Golestan Province, particularly in cities such as Gorgan, Gonbad-e Kavus, and Bandar Torkman. Their ancestors' migration from Kazakhstan in 1929 and the subsequent years was part of a broader movement of Turkic and Central Asian peoples fleeing political turmoil and the Soviet Union's collectivization policies.

Today, the Iranian Kazakhs represent a distinctive fusion of Central Asian and Persian cultural heritage. Although they form a small minority, Kazakhs in Iran have preserved some of their traditions and music. The "dombra", their iconic stringed instrument, remains a powerful symbol of identity and cultural continuity. During Nowruz (Persian new year festival) and other cultural festivals, Iranian Kazakhs have often performed traditional music and dances. However, younger generations are more influenced by Persian and Turkmen music, so that the traditional dombra playing is less common although some families have worked to preserve it in Iran. Also note that in Golestan province, some Iranian Kazakhs also play the Turkmen dotar, which has a similar body-structure although a different sound.

Iranian Turkmen referred to Iranian Kazakhs as "bilish بیلیش" which likely reflects a shared history, ethnicity, or cultural familiarity. The term suggests a respectful recognition of kinship - not strangers - but people with a known or familiar connection. In many Turkic languages, the term "bil بیل" means "to know". Adding suffixes like "ish ایش" can form nouns implying a relationship. Hence, "bilish" can carry the idea of someone known, i.e., "an acquaintance" (in Persian آشنا).

Dombra the Kazakh long-necked lute

The dombra is a long-necked two-stringed lute central to Kazakh music and storytelling traditions. It is used to accompany epic poetry and folk songs. The presence of the Kazakh dombra in Iran highlights the deep historical and cultural ties between Turkic and Persian musical traditions. The dotar, especially common in northeastern Iran (like Golestan, Mazandaran and Khorasan), shares structural and musical similarities with the dombra although their sound are different.

In Kazakhstan, "Dombra-kuy" is a solo performance on the dombra that blends classical and improvised music to evoke deep emotional and spiritual connections to Kazakh heritage. Often accompanied by stories and legends, it is traditionally performed at gatherings and celebrations, serving as a key form of social communication and cultural expression. The art fosters identity, solidarity, and intergenerational knowledge transfer. Young talents apprentice with masters to learn the philosophy and skill of the tradition, later refining their craft with experienced regional performers.

The pictures of this note are taken from the following note:

Kazakh traditional art of Dombra Kuy