Module I

Oral Histories of Crossing and Continuity

This module gathers 42 oral testimonies recorded between 1968 and 2024 across Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. Storytellers unpack the layered relationships between homeland memory, religion, and everyday cultural practice.

Diaspora Memory Community Voices Audio Archive
Elder sharing oral history

Listening Through Time

The Dungan oral tradition sustains continuity with ancestors while adapting to new geopolitical realities. Storytellers rely on rich metaphor, moral parables, and lyrical chant to transmit collective memory. We annotate each narrative with contextual notes, historical dates, and key motifs to support educators, linguists, and community learners alike.

Featured Narrative

“We braided horsehair into rope so our memories would not fray.” — Mahmut Akhun, Karakol (1993).

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Research Companion

Download glossaries, mapping layers, and field notes to incorporate Dungan narratives into your curriculum or exhibition planning.

Curated Audio Playlist

Recorded 1932 · Kashgar Caravan Route

“Flight Under Double Moons”

Narration by Aisha Nurma, recounting her family’s flight from Gansu and hospitality among Uyghur neighbors.

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Recorded 1978 · Tokmok Community Hall

“Weaving Wheat Shadows”

Elders share how agricultural cooperatives became spaces for cultural exchange and solidarity.

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Recorded 2015 · Almaty Diaspora Studio

“Roots in Every Direction”

Multigenerational dialogue explores language revival and the role of digital media in youth identity.

Listen (05:43) →

Fieldwork Timeline

1968

First Recorded Narrative in Tokmok

Smithsonian linguists collaborate with local teachers to document songs accompanying harvest rituals.

1991

Community Archive Initiative Launches

Dungan youth volunteers begin digitizing cassette recordings for interregional exchange programs.

2024

Interactive Atlas Release

Launch of multilingual annotations and collaborative transcription workshops for students across Central Asia.