Ilyas Ayubov
Encyclopedia
Ilyas Ayubov (born 1986 in Grozny
, Chechnya
) is a Chechen
pop singer
.
, the Chechen capital, where he spent much of his youth. During the start of the Second Chechen War
, Ilyas and his family fled to Sernovodsk, near the border with Ingushetia
, as refugees, and Ilyas completed high school
there, graduating in 2005.
While staying with relatives in Sernovodsk, Ilyas met a neighbor who played the guitar
, and took guitar lessons from him and started to sing, which helped Ilyas realize his singing abilities. However, Ilyas's dance
abilities in school led the children's dance ensemble "Marsho" to invite him, and in 2000 Ilyas danced in their ensemble. He would continue to dance in ensembles, including that of late ballet dancer Makhmud Esambayev
, until a leg injury abruptly ended his career in 2005.
In 2001, Ilyas's father returned to their home in Grozny from Sernovodsk, while Ilyas stayed behind due to studies at his high school. Ilyas returned to Grozny with the rest of his family in December of that year to celebrate Eid ul-Fitr
, although the city was under curfew
by the Russian military
, which had been prolonged further due to the holiday. On Eid night, many guests had assembled in the Ayubov family home, and Ilyas's father left with a friend to an adjacent street to visit their relatives. Around nine o'clock that night, Ilyas heard automatic gunfire ring outside, which Ilyas later described as "an alarming echo which answered his soul". Ilyas and the rest of his family waited apprehensively until dawn for his father's return. In the morning, Ilyas rushed outside and ran to the adjacent street to find a large crowd. Although some of neighbors in the crowd tried to block Ilyas from the sight, he saw his father's car riddled with bullet holes, and his father's corpse lying in a pool of blood a few feet away, murdered the night earlier by Russian Army
soldiers.http://doshdu.ru/d13/36/
A year after the incident, Ilyas would record his first song, "Mother's Son", in memory of his father. However, his popularity would not take off until he introduced his second song, "Do You Believe", at two concerts - the song gained instant popularity on Chechen radio stations, and was continually aired every hour. Ilyas said that he found this sudden new fame had made him nostalgic for his old life, as he missed being able to spend as much time with friends and having an active social life. He also said that he found stardom to be a "disease of complacency and arrogance", and he felt that many professional singers had devalued themselves through arrogance, once they had realized fame. Ilyas himself generates no income from his music, which is widely pirated
throughout marketplaces in Chechnya
; however, he says, "But I think that if someone, sells my voice, to make a piece of bread to feed his family, I am glad so that I can help in any scheme."http://doshdu.ru/d13/36/
Ilyas has friendly relations with his contemporaries, such as Shamkhan Daldaev and Makka Sagaipova
, although he admits that the older generation of Chechen singers tend to look down on the new, younger generation of pop singers as interested in temporary fame. Nevertheless, Ilyas has indicated that he will not continue a singing career, as he is a student at the Department of Finance
and Economics
at Chechen State University, and graduated from the Republican de Danza ballet
academy, receiving a degree in choreography
.
Ilyas says that he would have trained to become an athlete had it not been for the First
and Second Chechen War
s, and he says he is a passionate fan of freestyle wrestling
and admires Buvaisar and Adam Saitiev
, Chechen wrestlers who have won gold medals at the Olympics.
Ilyas is also a devout Muslim
who refuses concerts and recitals during the month of Ramadan
, and considers every prayer missed as a tragedy.
Grozny
Grozny is the capital city of the Chechen Republic, Russia. The city lies on the Sunzha River. According to the preliminary results of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 271,596; up from 210,720 recorded in the 2002 Census. but still only about two-thirds of 399,688 recorded in the 1989...
, Chechnya
Chechnya
The Chechen Republic , commonly referred to as Chechnya , also spelled Chechnia or Chechenia, sometimes referred to as Ichkeria , is a federal subject of Russia . It is located in the southeastern part of Europe in the Northern Caucasus mountains. The capital of the republic is the city of Grozny...
) is a Chechen
Chechen people
Chechens constitute the largest native ethnic group originating in the North Caucasus region. They refer to themselves as Noxçi . Also known as Sadiks , Gargareans, Malkhs...
pop singer
Pop Singer
"Pop Singer" is the début single from London-based glam rockers Rachel Stamp. It was released in February, 1996 through WEA. The single was released as a 2 track CD Single and limited edition pink 7" vinyl of 1000 copies...
.
Biography
Ilyas was born in 1986 in GroznyGrozny
Grozny is the capital city of the Chechen Republic, Russia. The city lies on the Sunzha River. According to the preliminary results of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 271,596; up from 210,720 recorded in the 2002 Census. but still only about two-thirds of 399,688 recorded in the 1989...
, the Chechen capital, where he spent much of his youth. During the start of the Second Chechen War
Second Chechen War
The Second Chechen War, in a later phase better known as the War in the North Caucasus, was launched by the Russian Federation starting 26 August 1999, in response to the Invasion of Dagestan by the Islamic International Peacekeeping Brigade ....
, Ilyas and his family fled to Sernovodsk, near the border with Ingushetia
Ingushetia
The Republic of Ingushetia is a federal subject of Russia , located in the North Caucasus region with its capital at Magas. In terms of area, the republic is the smallest of Russia's federal subjects except for the two federal cities, Moscow and Saint Petersburg...
, as refugees, and Ilyas completed high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
there, graduating in 2005.
While staying with relatives in Sernovodsk, Ilyas met a neighbor who played the guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, and took guitar lessons from him and started to sing, which helped Ilyas realize his singing abilities. However, Ilyas's dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
abilities in school led the children's dance ensemble "Marsho" to invite him, and in 2000 Ilyas danced in their ensemble. He would continue to dance in ensembles, including that of late ballet dancer Makhmud Esambayev
Makhmud Esambayev
Makhmud Alisultanovich Esambayev was a Chechen actor and dancer. Makhmud was regarded as one the most famous dancers of the Soviet Union.-Biography:...
, until a leg injury abruptly ended his career in 2005.
In 2001, Ilyas's father returned to their home in Grozny from Sernovodsk, while Ilyas stayed behind due to studies at his high school. Ilyas returned to Grozny with the rest of his family in December of that year to celebrate Eid ul-Fitr
Eid ul-Fitr
Eid ul-Fitr, Eid al-Fitr, Id-ul-Fitr, or Id al-Fitr , often abbreviated to Eid, is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting . Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity," while Fiṭr means "breaking the fast"...
, although the city was under curfew
Curfew
A curfew is an order specifying a time after which certain regulations apply. Examples:# An order by a government for certain persons to return home daily before a certain time...
by the Russian military
Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are the military services of Russia, established after the break-up of the Soviet Union. On 7 May 1992 Boris Yeltsin signed a decree establishing the Russian Ministry of Defence and placing all Soviet Armed Forces troops on the territory of the RSFSR...
, which had been prolonged further due to the holiday. On Eid night, many guests had assembled in the Ayubov family home, and Ilyas's father left with a friend to an adjacent street to visit their relatives. Around nine o'clock that night, Ilyas heard automatic gunfire ring outside, which Ilyas later described as "an alarming echo which answered his soul". Ilyas and the rest of his family waited apprehensively until dawn for his father's return. In the morning, Ilyas rushed outside and ran to the adjacent street to find a large crowd. Although some of neighbors in the crowd tried to block Ilyas from the sight, he saw his father's car riddled with bullet holes, and his father's corpse lying in a pool of blood a few feet away, murdered the night earlier by Russian Army
Russian Ground Forces
The Russian Ground Forces are the land forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, formed from parts of the collapsing Soviet Army in 1992. The formation of these forces posed economic challenges after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and required reforms to professionalize the force...
soldiers.http://doshdu.ru/d13/36/
A year after the incident, Ilyas would record his first song, "Mother's Son", in memory of his father. However, his popularity would not take off until he introduced his second song, "Do You Believe", at two concerts - the song gained instant popularity on Chechen radio stations, and was continually aired every hour. Ilyas said that he found this sudden new fame had made him nostalgic for his old life, as he missed being able to spend as much time with friends and having an active social life. He also said that he found stardom to be a "disease of complacency and arrogance", and he felt that many professional singers had devalued themselves through arrogance, once they had realized fame. Ilyas himself generates no income from his music, which is widely pirated
Copyright infringement
Copyright infringement is the unauthorized or prohibited use of works under copyright, infringing the copyright holder's exclusive rights, such as the right to reproduce or perform the copyrighted work, or to make derivative works.- "Piracy" :...
throughout marketplaces in Chechnya
Chechnya
The Chechen Republic , commonly referred to as Chechnya , also spelled Chechnia or Chechenia, sometimes referred to as Ichkeria , is a federal subject of Russia . It is located in the southeastern part of Europe in the Northern Caucasus mountains. The capital of the republic is the city of Grozny...
; however, he says, "But I think that if someone, sells my voice, to make a piece of bread to feed his family, I am glad so that I can help in any scheme."http://doshdu.ru/d13/36/
Ilyas has friendly relations with his contemporaries, such as Shamkhan Daldaev and Makka Sagaipova
Makka sagaipova
Makka Umarovna Sagaipova is a singer from Chechnya. She is also a dancer in the Chechen dance ensemble, Lovzar.-Biography:...
, although he admits that the older generation of Chechen singers tend to look down on the new, younger generation of pop singers as interested in temporary fame. Nevertheless, Ilyas has indicated that he will not continue a singing career, as he is a student at the Department of Finance
Finance
"Finance" is often defined simply as the management of money or “funds” management Modern finance, however, is a family of business activity that includes the origination, marketing, and management of cash and money surrogates through a variety of capital accounts, instruments, and markets created...
and Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
at Chechen State University, and graduated from the Republican de Danza ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
academy, receiving a degree in choreography
Choreography
Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements in which motion, form, or both are specified. Choreography may also refer to the design itself, which is sometimes expressed by means of dance notation. The word choreography literally means "dance-writing" from the Greek words "χορεία" ...
.
Ilyas says that he would have trained to become an athlete had it not been for the First
First Chechen War
The First Chechen War, also known as the War in Chechnya, was a conflict between the Russian Federation and the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, fought from December 1994 to August 1996...
and Second Chechen War
Second Chechen War
The Second Chechen War, in a later phase better known as the War in the North Caucasus, was launched by the Russian Federation starting 26 August 1999, in response to the Invasion of Dagestan by the Islamic International Peacekeeping Brigade ....
s, and he says he is a passionate fan of freestyle wrestling
Freestyle wrestling
Freestyle wrestling is a style of amateur wrestling that is practised throughout the world. Along with Greco-Roman, it is one of the two styles of wrestling contested in the Olympic games. It is, along with track and field, one of the oldest organized sports in history...
and admires Buvaisar and Adam Saitiev
Adam Saitiev
Adam Hamidovich Saitiev, also spelled Saytiev, is a Chechen wrestler who won gold at the 2000 Summer Olympics for the Russian Federation at 85 kg cat....
, Chechen wrestlers who have won gold medals at the Olympics.
Ilyas is also a devout Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
who refuses concerts and recitals during the month of Ramadan
Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which lasts 29 or 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and...
, and considers every prayer missed as a tragedy.