From November 9 to November 10, the Inter-regional contest of the Bashkir drawling song “Okay Kay” took place in Tuymazy.

At the closing ceremony of the competition, all participants and spectators were greeted by the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Bashkortostan, Amina Shafikova.

This year, in a two-day event on their stage, Tuymazins saw 69 performers of a Bashkir drawing song from Kazakhstan, Kazan, and the Chelyabinsk Region. The Republic of Bashkortostan was represented by 8 cities and 21 districts. The youngest participant in the competition, Amalia Gaynakhmetova from the Baltachevsky district, is 8 years old. The contest provided a unique opportunity for young talents, who are just beginning their creative path, to perform on the same stage with the older generation. So, the oldest participant Davletbay Rakhmatullin from Burzyan district is 81 years old, who sang the rare folk song “Buryamal”.

The authoritative jury headed by Honored Worker of Culture of the Republic of Bashkortostan, People’s Artist of the Republic of Bashkortostan Galia Sultanova praised the talent of the contestants. The jury worked: People's Artist of the Republic of Belarus, Honored Worker of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Belarus. S. Yulaeva Yulay Gainetdinov; opera singer, laureate of the national award "Silver Olive Branch" for his work in the field of art, professor of the singing department of the Patina Conservatory (Italy), Sufiya Mukhametova-Badiali; People's Artist of the Republic of Belarus, soloist - vocalist of the Bashkir State Philharmonic named after. H. Akhmetova Azamat Timir; musicologist, Honored Artist of the Republic of Belarus, member of the Union of Journalists, Composers of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, editor of radio and television services of the branch of the All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company Bashkortostan, Ph.D. in Art History Milyausha Idrisova; Director of the Children's Music School of Tuymazy Ramzin Absalyamov; head of the department of folk art of the RCSTP; executive secretary of the jury Elvira Akhmedyanova.

The Grand Prix of the Interregional Competition of Performers of the Bashkir drawling song “Oko Küy” in 2018 was presented to Ramil Kutdusova from the Gafuriya district. In his performance sounded the Bashkir lingering song "әzizәkky". I degree laureate diplomas were awarded to Alfie Murzabayeva (Zianchurinsky District), Murad Zagirov (Tuymazy), Fuat Yunusbayev (Sterlitamak). The names of laureates of grades II-III, diploma winners, and also the winners in the nomination: “Оkon ky tower” traditionally for the control of the sun ”were defined. Representatives of 3 regions received special prizes from the International Union of Public Associations “World Kurultay (Congress) Bashkir” and the Republican Center of Folk Art.

The competition was held by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Bashkortostan, the Republican Center of Folk Art and the Administration of the Municipal District of Tuymazinsky District of the Republic of Bashkortostan in order to restore and develop the performing traditions of the city, revive the local Bashkir song folklore.