AKIPRESS.COM - Limon.kg presents 7 unique stories of Afro-Kyrgyz people. All these people have Kyrgyz citizenship and know Kyrgyz culture, mentality and traditions.

Sheikh Kante Sheikhamed, 19

My name is Hussein Kante and I am 19 years old. I am second year student in college. My father is Moroccan and my mother is Kyrgyz. I have two brothers Mohammed and Hassan, we are triplets. Our age difference is 15 minutes.

Everyone at school were interested in me. Everyone blamed us if there were misbehavior or wrongdoing.

Hassan Usenov, 19

My name is Hassan Usenov and I am 19 years old. My mother is Kyrgyz and father is Moroccan. Me and my brothers were born in Vienna. We moved to our motherland because my mother divorced with father and we have not seen him since this day. I have two brothers, we are triplets with the difference of 15 minutes. We have a lot of relatives from my mother’s side. Previously, excessive attention of people annoyed us, but now we are used to it.

Sandra Ismara Madraso, 19

My name is Sandra and I am 19 years old. My mother is Kyrgyz and gather is Cuban. My father lives in Cuba and my mother and grandmother live in Kyrgyzstan. I barely understand Russian and therefore my grandma speaks Kyrgyz with me. People in the public transport may stare at me for a long time but I got used to it.

Asier Lorente Olmo, 30

My name is Asier Lorente Olmo and I am 30 years old. My nationality is Cuban. I have been living in Kyrgyzstan for 4 years but I have visited it more than once before. I immediately liked the nature and people of this country. Therefore, I decided to stay here and develop my music in Kyrgyzstan.

The locals often react to me probably because of my hair. Many people ask me about what is my nationality and where I came from. They are trying to find a common language and make friends.

José Luis Hernández Torres, 30

My name is José Luis Hernández Torres and I am 30 years old. I came to Kyrgyzstan along with my friend Asier Lorente Olmo 4 years ago. I am Cuban. The purpose of our visit was music and we wanted to be inspired by your culture and create unique genre of music.

People always react to us. I think I do not stand out of the croud.

Martin Keita, 14

My name is Martin Keita and I am 14 years old. I am in my 8th grade at school # 28. My mother is half-breed, half Tatar, Russian and Malinke (West African ethnic group) and my father is the native of Africa, his tribe is called “Ibu”. My parents have been living in Kyrgyzstan for 13 years. We moved from Thailand to Kyrgyzstan to my mother’s relatives. I have a 9 year-old younger sister. My classmates got accustomed to me however people on the streets are always asking about my nationality and also very surprised when I am speaking to them in Russian.

Elizabeth Matusala, 19

My name is Elizabeth Matusala and I am 19 years old. I am second year student. My father is Ethiopian and mother is a native Kyrgyz from Naryn. They met in Tokmok town and started dating even though my mother was 5 years older than my father. Father flew to Kyrgyzstan when he was 19 years old. He studied in Tokmok. I have an older brother, his name is Johannes and he is 24 years old, now he lives in St. Petersburg. I have never never subjected to racism at school.