By Uyghur Times Staff
August 17, 2024, Urumqi – Meryem Nasir, a renowned Uyghur artist and a key figure in the development of modern Uyghur dance, passed away on August 16, 2024, at the age of 84 in Urumqi due to illness. Her death is being widely mourned by Uyghurs, who are expressing their grief on Chinese social media, stating, “We lost another valuable child of our nation; we are losing one by one each day.”
Meryem Nasir was celebrated for her remarkable contributions to Uyghur art and culture, particularly in the field of dance. Her efforts in training and nurturing young artists left a lasting legacy, as she played a crucial role in shaping the next generation of Uyghur performers.
Despite living a peaceful retirement in her later years, her presence on Chinese social media remains marked by content promoting Chinese cultural and artistic values. While she survived the notorious camps and prisons, her life, like many others who were allowed to survive, took a politically complicated turn. Meryem Nasir was known to have participated in several Chinese political movements and actively voiced support for China’s territorial integrity and counter-terrorism initiatives. She also promoted Uyghur art as part of Chinese culture, aligning with the state’s narratives.
The loss of Meryem Nasir is felt deeply across the Uyghur community, who see it as another blow to their rich cultural heritage. Despite the complex circumstances of her later life, her contributions to Uyghur dance and art remain significant, and her passing marks the end of an era for Uyghur artistic expression.
some of her performances:
ئۇنىڭ بىر قسم ئەسەرلىرى:
1985-يىلىدىكى تاتارچە ئۇسۇلى:
