In Kazakh culture, an Aken is more than a poet — he's a master of improvisational singing and storytelling, accompanied by the traditional instrument, the dombra. Rahmethan Xeriphan, from Kazak Autonomous County of Barkol in Xinjiang, is both an Aken and a PhD in media studies. Guided by his mentor Erkenbek Angabay, he brings the rhythms and heritage of the traditional Kazakh performance to new generations through modern platforms.