Aytysh

Aitysh (Kyrgyz: Айтыш [ɑjˈtɯɕ]; Kazakh: Айтыс / Aitys [ɑjˈtəs])[1][2] is the name for the primarily folk-oriented, oral tradition of improvised singing and oratory between two parties referred to in Kazakh as akyns but found throughout Central Asia.

[3] The practice of aytysh began primarily as a folk tradition before being adopted by akyns who later expanded the genre's form and themes to include national epics, heroic stories of national history, and patriotic narratives.

[1] Although rehearsed sections were part of the competition, those who could improvise and respond in witty, historically mindful, and inventive ways to their opponents won the most praise from the audience.

[6][7] The style has been put onto the international stage since the late 2000s when competitions began to be held.

Topics used in aytysh are various but primarily revolve around social, cultural, political, and personal matters.