Abstract

Historical figures, cultural values and historical memory play a huge role in the formation of the  identity of every nation.In determining any national identity, every individual tries to find a decent response to the question : "Who are we?". By answering this question, each nation determines its own national identity. For example, French, English, Kazakh national identity, etc.

This article focuses on the peculiarities of the formation of modern statehood’s national identity and the role of historical figures on it. At the time of the declaration of independence of  any state, to form state institutions and national identity are the most important and honourable tasks which have to be done at first. On the basis of the decree of  President Q.Zh Tokayev K.  2020 has been announced for the anniversary of the two most prominient thinkers the 150th  anniversary of Abay Kunanbayev, and  1150^th  years anniversary since the birth of Al-Faraby.  The article analyse the role of Al-Farabi and Abay Kunanbayev in the formation of the national identity of the Kazakh people in the XXI century. The purpose of the article is to identify the peculiarities of the formation of national identity through the image of historical intellectual personalities on the example of Kazakhstan. In order to achieve this goal, the article used the method of retrospective analysis. Analyzing the historical role of Al-Farabi and Abay Kunanbayev,  defined to what extend  influenced the  Abay’s, Faraby’s historical role to the formation of the national identity of the people of Kazakhstan in the XXI century.