Aitys is one of the literary heritages that has long served to convey national values, the life of the people, historical figures and their good deeds for the nation, as well as various significant and minor events within history to future generations. Aitys is a form of verbal art based on the improvisational talent of two poets. Today, among the various types of aitys, the form between father and child is becoming increasingly recognized. This form of aitys—a dialogue between father and child—has not been commonly found in the history of aitys before, making it unique for its novelty and for capturing the public’s interest in a special way. Accordingly, this article aims to explore the depiction of father and child aitys in both Turkish and Kazakh cultures. In Kazakh tradition, the aitys between Aitakyn Bulgakov and his son Zhandarbek Bulgakov is analyzed as a modern and artistic example. In Turkish tradition, an excerpt and analysis are provided from the aitys between the famous poet Şenlik, who lived at the end of the 19th century, and his son Kasım. This form of aitys is especially valued as a unique artistic expression that not only promotes family values but also poetically conveys the spiritual bond between father and child. As a result of this research, the common features of aitys in Turkic nations were examined, and the father-child dynamic in the aitys examples from Kazakh and Turkish cultures was described and analyzed through selected poetic excerpts.
аitys, father-son aitys, poetry contests, kazakh aitys, turkish aitys.