“I’m not Kazakh, but…”: viral TikTok trend inspires foreigners to sing Kazakh hits
Participants begin their videos by saying “I’m not Kazakh, but…” before singing well-known Kazakh hits — often so accurately that many viewers say it sounds like the performers are native speakers.
Among the songs featured in the trend are tracks by Ninety One, Duman, Kairat Nurtas, and other Kazakh artists. Commenters note that the trend is not treated as a joke but as a genuine expression of interest in Kazakh language and culture.
One of the most-watched videos features a girl singing Kairat Nurtas’s hit song, which has garnered over 1.2 million views.
@sebarole #kazakhstan???????? #???????? #song #viiral #kazakh ♬ Originalton - Dissirama
“We don’t judge — we probably look the same when we try to understand English,” one user joked in the comments.
“They know how to make things go viral,” another added.
Many Kazakh users humorously claimed the singer as one of their own:
“That’s Akbota from Shymkent,” “Your name must be Akniyet,” “You say you’re not Kazakh, but we know you’re our kazakh girl.”
Another viral video shows a young woman from South Korea performing Duman’s song “Жіберем қалай”, impressing viewers with her pronunciation and confidence.
@boni.kls #추천추천추천추천추천추천추천추천추천추천#카자흐스탄#고딩#고3#07 ♬ 오리지널 사운드 - boni ????
“I thought she was Kazakh,” wrote one commenter. “Her pronunciation is better than most Americans’,” added another.
Creators from Turkey, Singapore, and China have also joined the trend. Chinese singer Euclides Veigas performed “Жаулап алды махаббат” by the duo Nurlan & Murat, earning thousands of likes and praise for his heartfelt rendition.
@guessitkaa Im not ????????but #көзіңәдемі #рекомендации #еркешхасен ♬ original sound - Guessit
“Beautiful voice,” “Great performance,” “You sing so well,” wrote TikTok users in the comments.
Unlike many other viral challenges, the “I’m not Kazakh, but…” trend has been praised for bringing people together through music and highlighting cross-cultural appreciation.
“We sing Korean songs, and now they’re singing ours — it’s beautiful,” one user commented.
The trend has become part of a larger global movement where people perform songs in languages other than their own, celebrating diversity and cultural connection through music.