THE ROLE OF AL-FARABI AND ABAI KUNANBAYEV IN THE FORMATION OF THE IDENTITY OF THE KAZAKH PEOPLE IN THE XXI CENTURY

Historical figures, cultural values and historical memory play a huge role in the formation of the identity of every nation.In determining any national identity, every individual tries to find a decent response to the question: «Who are we?». By answering this question, each nation determines its own national identity. For example, French, English, Kazakh national identities, etc. This article focuses on the peculiarities of the formation of modern statehood’s national identity and the role of historical figures on it. At the time of the declaration of independence of any state, to formstate institutions and national identity are the most important and honourable tasks which have to be done at first. On the basis of the decree of President Q.-Zh. Tokayev 2020 has been announced for the anniversary of the two most prominient thinkers the 150th anniversary of Abai Kunanbayev, and 1150th years anniversary since the birth of Al-Faraby. The article analyse the role of Al-Farabi and Abai Kunanbayev in the formation of the national identity of the Kazakh people in the XXI century. The purpose of the article is to identify the peculiarities of the formation of national identity through the image of historical intellectual personalities on the example of Kazakhstan. In order to achieve this goal, the article used the method of retrospective analysis. Analyzing the historical role of Al-Farabi and Abai Kunanbayev, defined to what extend influenced the Abai’s, Faraby’s historical role to the formation of the national identity of the people of Kazakhstan in the XXI century.