Uzbekistan’s Minister of Culture Ozodbek Nazarbekov’s performance at a wedding ceremony has widely spread on social networks. In the footage, it can be seen that guests present at the event are giving the artist money—100,000 and 200,000 sum notes, as well as dollars—while he is performing.
This video sparked heated debates among social media users. Some of them accepted this as a part of national tradition and as an expression of respect and gratitude towards the performer.
Others, however, found such actions by the minister, as a public official, inappropriate. Ozodbek Nazarbekov was born on May 7, 1974, in Shahrixon district, Andijan region.
He is a famous Uzbek singer, composer, and public figure, honored as the People’s Artist of Uzbekistan and Karakalpakstan and the recipient of the “El-yurt hurmati” order. Nazarbekov began his creative career in the 1990s and quickly became one of the most well-known personalities of Uzbek pop music.
Among his famous songs are pieces such as “Jondan aziz”, “Qadamlar hikmati”, and “Mushtarak manzil”. He has not only given solo concerts but also collaborated creatively with famous artists like Yulduz Usmonova, Dilsoz, and Shahzoda.
In 2018, Nazarbekov was appointed First Deputy Minister of Culture, and in December 2020, he was appointed Minister of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan. At the same time, he heads the Yunus Rajabiy Uzbek National Music Art Institute.
Nazarbekov has previously been the subject of discussion on social media as well. In 2024, he appeared in a commercial for the KINGSMAN clothing store, and in August of the same year participated in a promo video for the private Kokand University.
