A small but historically rooted ethnic community in Russia’s Samara region is working to preserve and revive its language, culture, and religious identity, with growing interest among young people in reconnecting with their heritage playing an important role in the effort.
Bashkirs are one of the region’s Indigenous ethnic communities, with about 5,000 people living in Samara region, according to Russian media reports.
Gulsina Akirova, head of the Bashkir Kurultai, a community organization representing Bashkirs in Samara region, said most Bashkirs in the region live in the Bolsheglushitsky.
According to Akirova, Bashkirs in rural areas have largely preserved their native language and traditional way of life. In cities, however, Russian is more commonly used because of regular interaction with people from different ethnic backgrounds.
She said that in areas where Bashkirs live in concentrated communities, the villages are predominantly Bashkir. The Bashkir language and traditions remain strong there, although there is a growing concern that younger generations are gradually losing fluency in their native language.
At the same time, Akirova said, more young people are showing an interest in reviving their language and cultural heritage.
The effort increasingly combines traditional community initiatives with modern technology. Bashkir language-learning groups are being established in Samara and other cities, while classes for children are also being organized.
One language-preservation project includes an interactive smart speaker called Khomay, which, according to Akirova, can understand Bashkir and help users learn the language.
Bashkir language classes are also being offered to children across Samara region. Akirova said some parents have begun asking to join the classes themselves, expressing a desire to learn the language alongside their children.
Religion is also becoming an important part of the revival of Bashkir identity. According to Akirova, interest in Islam is growing within the community, with more people seeking to follow Islamic teachings and religious practices.
She said that almost every Bashkir village now has a small mosque or prayer house. These places, she added, serve not only as centers of worship but also as important hubs for social and cultural life in the villages.
Akirova compared the role of these mosques and prayer houses to the rural cultural centers of the former Soviet era, saying they have become places where communities can gather and maintain their social and cultural ties.
The experience of the Bashkir community in Samara region illustrates how a small ethnic community is drawing on language, culture, religion, and technology to preserve its identity. New language programs, growing interest among children and parents, and the role of mosques as community centers are all part of that effort.
According to Akirova, the Bashkir community is not only working to revive its language and cultural traditions but is also strengthening its connection to Islam, which she sees as an important part of the community’s ongoing cultural revival.
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У башкир Самарской области растет интерес к исламу и родному языку
