In Xinjiang, officials are trying to stamp out Uyghur identity
Uyghur artists and intellectuals are being rounded up, but some of their work escapes
OFFICIALS IN XINJIANG have always been suspicious of the distinctive cultural identity of ethnic Uyghurs. They worry that it may fuel separatist yearnings in the far-western region. But in 2014, as the authorities stepped up their campaign to crush terrorism there, the government still tolerated displays of pride in Uyghur culture. In October that year a new talent show, “The Voice of the Silk Road”, aired on state-owned Xinjiang Television. It featured songs in various styles, from pop and R&B to traditional muqam music with lyrics influenced by classical poetry. The judges mostly spoke in Uyghur.
This article appeared in the China section of the print edition under the headline “Poetry from the gulag”
From the October 23rd 2021 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the edition
China’s shoemakers seem more sanguine than its politicians
A trade war will cause a lot of damage, but many have weathered storms before
To secure exports to Europe, China reconfigures its rail links
A new line will bypass its best friend, Russia
The Panama ports deal is delayed, as China signals dissent
Xi Jinping may be wanting to increase leverage over America
China has a thriving black market for personal data
The surveillance state is good at collecting information but bad at keeping it safe
China could greatly reduce its reliance on coal. It probably will not
Even though solar and wind power are growing at a blistering pace