Ibrai’s “Gakku”. The guests sat in a semicircle in the house. On a big wooden bed sat a beautiful girl - seventeen-year old Kakima. In her hand she had a one-row harmonica. Widely extending the furs, the girl was playing something bravura and the guests listened in fascination. «Ibrai! Ibrai is coming» -someone shouted from the street. The guests stirred, sat a little closer, freeing the most honoured place for the renowned singer. A beautifully clad djigit entered the house and politely greeted all. He sat in the appointed place, leaning the dombra against the wall. He curtly inquired of the crowd about their health and kept a thoughtful silence. He at once noticed the girl on the bed. Kakima also unobtrusively watched the singer. Then they brought in the tea-urn and the girl started pouring tea. She very accurately filled the cups with fragrant tea, venerably handing it to the guests. Ibrai with admiration watched the girl and though he had quenched his thirst long ago was drinking cup after cup, admiring how the beautiful hostess was handing to him again and again. At last the table was cleared. The singer took the dombra, tuned it and sang. He sang with a free mighty voice, sang artistically, gracefully, with inspiration. The house suddenly seemed more spacious and lighter. By the laws of the times a girl could not travel from aul to aul. Kakima had heard a lot about Ibrai, but it was the first time she had seen him. The men in the house were wondering at the might of the singer’s voice, and Kakima followed his every gesture, impatiently listening to every new song. Ibrai’s arrival was a happy event in Kakima’s life. Kakima was not a shy girl like all the other Kazakh women in the aul. She did not rigidly adhere to the laws of the «Code of the Steppe” and carried herself freely, independently, proudly. When playing the harmonica, she always threw the scarf off her head. Listening to her play and sing, the people did not even notice such infractions of Moslem «decency». Ibrai admired her playing, her voice, her free manner, and her ingenious and careful speech. Towards evening so many people had gathered in the house that, as Kazakhs say, there was room for a «fox to push through its muzzle». Ibrai was at his best: he sang song after song. Accompanying herself upon the harmonica, Kakima was replacing him. Ibrai was in exultation. With all his soul he got attached to the gifted girl. When late into the night the guests had left, the young couple found themselves alone for a short time and admitted they had fallen in love with each other. The whole night through Ibrai could not fall asleep from the joy; from happiness he could not rest, neither did he have his true friends with him, to whom he could confide his secret, his love. Hardly had the morning come, when the singer addressed his inseparable companion - the dombra. After the morning tea, at the request of the gathered he sang several more songs  and then  addressed  Kakima:   «Dear Kakima, and this song I give to you».

You’re the swan gliding on the water;
If you ever heard this, then where?
Melting in the sounds of dombra and harmonica,
Gakku, my heart is all a-flame.

The people did not guess at once that this was Ibrai’s new song and did not know whom Ibrai so tenderly called «Gakku». Only Kakima, sitting on the bed, was mysteriously smiling when the singer joyfully, in exultation, sang the refrain: «Gakku, Gakku, ga-gagaga..» and Ibrai becoming even more inspired, sang louder, praising at his best the enigmatic beloved of his heart Gakku.

I will not dissemble a word from this song,
With it I’ll travel throughout my country.
Like the goose, flying home from the South,
I’ll cry this song out in the native land.

The temper of the girl so tender and gentle,
The glory of the Khan is nothing compared with mine,
The swan, if it’s swimming ahead of,
Will never compare with Gakku of mine.

Of the enigmatic Gakku only Ibrai and Kakima knew. According to contemporary stories, Ibrai was then only twenty years old. Thus was born the famous song «Gakku» - the pinnacle of the creativity of Ibrai. There is no Kazakh who does not know this song.