Alexander Konakov was born on September 9, 1887, into a peasant family. In 1908, he graduated from the Kukarsk Teacher's Seminary and worked as a teacher at the Konganur Two-Class School until 1914. He then entered the Vyatka Teacher's Institute, and after graduating, he was drafted into the tsarist army, serving as a warrant officer.

After demobilization in 1918, Konakov began teaching at the Ronginskaya School of the II degree. Later, he transferred to the Tsarevokokshaysk Teacher's Seminary, where he taught natural sciences and chemistry. Together with composer I. S. Klyuchnikov-Palantay, he organized drama and choir circles.

In May 1919, Konakov became a cadet at the Volga Military-Economic Courses in Kazan. From 1920, he worked as a military commissar of the Sernur Canton while also teaching at pedagogical courses. He was the initiator of the first Yoshar Peledysh Payrem festival held on May 27, 1920, in Sernur, known as the 'Red Flower Festival,' which remains one of the favorite holidays of the Mari people.

Alexander Fyodorovich Konakov passed away on February 17, 1922, due to illness. He began his literary activity in 1908. Since 1915, his journalistic notes and articles regularly appeared in the first Mari newspaper 'Voyna Uver.' As an active supporter of Soviet power, his speeches significantly contributed to strengthening the new authority in the Sernur district.

Konakov wrote stories and poems, but he is primarily remembered in the history of Mari literature as a unique playwright-educator. His plays 'Poran,' 'Buran,' 'Tulyk Ydyr,' and 'Sirotka' were published as separate books in Kazan. He created more than ten plays that were staged in rural clubs. He also wrote an adaptation 'Chachaviy' based on S. Chavain's story 'Yilanda.' In 1920, his drama 'Sirotka' was staged by the newly opened Mari Mobile Theater.