of Nargiz Zakirova and Her Relatives?
Irina Abaeva from Israel asks us: «In her recent interview with journalist Dmitry Gordon, presented in his You Tube program, singer Nargiz Zakirova claims that her mother, Honored Artist of the Uzbek SSR Luiza Zakirova, is Uzbek by nationality, and her father, virtuoso musician Pulat Sionovich Mordukhaev, is a Bukharan Jew, adding that her father is also half Persian. Is this true?»
Vladimir Aulov, Ph.D. in Philosophy, Nargiz’s fourth cousin, comments: «The popular American singer Nargiz Zakirova (Mordukhaeva) was born in Tashkent, to the family of Pulat Mordukhaev and Luiza Zakirova. She changed her surname when she began performing on stage in the USSR. Pulat Mordukhaev is the son of the famous humorist Sion Mordukhaev – Sioni Chungak (the etymology of Chungak is unknown) and Khevsi, daughter of Iskhakbay Davydov and Kalmok Abramova. It is possible that their ancestors were also Jewish refugees from Mashhad, Iran, who moved to Bukhara and Samarkand in the early 18 th century. There were no Persians in the Mordukhaev family; everyone until 1930 was Jewish.
Apparently, Nargiz, due to fears of antisemitism (she gave examples in her interview), constantly downplayed her Jewish roots, mentioning only her glorified Uzbek relatives from the Zakirov line: People’s Artists of Uzbekistan, grandfather Karim Zakirov, uncle Batyr Zakirov (also spelled Botir Zokirov), uncle Farrukh Zakirov (or Zokirov), Honored Artist of the Uzbek SSR Jamshid Zakirov, while not mentioning equally eminent and recognized figures in musical and theatrical art in Uzbekistan and Russia, representatives of the Mordukhaev family.
Who could be included in this list of names? Nargiz Zakirova’s grandfather was Sion (or Zion) Chungak Mordukhaev – a well-known and beloved humorist, master of words, expert in Bukharian Jewish folklore, founder of a dynasty of actors, musicians, and singers. Sion Mordukhaev was married twice. His son from his first marriage, Rochelle Sionovich Mordukhaev (Nargiz Zakirova’s uncle), was an Honored Artist of the Uzbek SSR. With his wife, ballerina Sara Musheeva, he worked for many years at the Alisher Navoi State Opera and Ballet Theater in Tashkent.
From his second marriage – to Khevsi (Esey) Davydova – he had two sons. The elder, Pisar Mordukhaev (1932, Tashkent – 2022, New York), was one of the first among Bukharian Jews and Uzbeks in Tashkent to master percussion instruments, working as a drummer in city pop ensembles. The second, Pulat Mordukhaev (1937, Tashkent – 2013, New York) – a student of his brother Pisar, played percussion instruments in the orchestra of Tamara Khanum and Batyr Zakirov, and married Luiza Zakirova in his second marriage. From his first marriage to Mira Iskhakova, a Bukharian Jewish girl, two children were born: son Tofik and daughter Violetta.
Other relatives:
Boris Rochelevich Murdakhaev Tashkent (January 2, 1937, Tashkent – October 15, 2021, Moscow) – Soviet and Russian theater actor of the «Romen» Theater and cinema, theater director and teacher, People’s Artist of the RSFSR (1991). Nargiz’s cousin.
Chungak Semyon Rochelievich (February 18, 1949, Tashkent, Uzbek SSR) – People’s Artist of Russia, theater and film actor, director of the «Romen» Theater. Nargiz’s cousin. Lives in Moscow.
Zoya Semyonovna Chungak – teacher and co-creator.
Lev Pinkhasov – People’s Artist of Uzbekistan, soloist of the Alisher Navoi State Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater, grandson of Sion Chungak.
Bertakhonim Iskhakovna Davydova (1907 – 1990) – singer, maqomist, worked at the A. Navoi Theater.
Rano Sharipova (February 27, 1939) – People’s Artist of Uzbekistan, daughter of Bayzo Sharipov and Bertakhonim Iskhakovna Davidova, granddaughter of Kalmok Abramova. Pulat Mordukhaev’s maternal cousin. Lives in Uzbekistan.
Tofik Mordukhaev – percussion instruments, in the «Bolalar» group since 1989 in the USA. Nargiz’s half-brother, lives in New York, son of Mira Iskhakova-Mordukhaeva.
It is interesting that Nargiz Zakirova’s grandchildren bear the Jewish names Levi (from Leyla) and Noah (from Sabina). In short, the dynasty of Sion Chungak’s descendants is the pride of the Uzbek and Bukharan Jewish peoples. And the listed list of names and titles of his descendants – People’s and Honored Artists of Uzbekistan and Russia – speaks for itself.»
Recorded by
Rafael Nektalov
This first appeared in issue 1221 and was translated from Russian into English.