-
By:
Shaban Maxharraj
- March 18 2025 22: 22
- Share to:
"Literature is a consolation for us, but also a spiritual tool that helps us fight, that is, to fight for freedom, truth and justice. Literature teaches us, it shows us who we are and what we can do," said academician Rexhep Qosja after accepting the "Albanian Literature" award, which the Ministry of Culture has restored since it was established in 2017 to honor Ismail Kadare. The activity of the distinguished writer and intellectual has been rightly appreciated for the role of an institution in Albanian cultural life. But the behind-the-scenes of the restoration of the "Albanian Literature" award inevitably highlights the way the Ministry of Culture does its work.
The Ministry of Culture has revived the "Albanian Literature" literary award after eight years. It did this to honor academician Rexhep Qosje. Minister Hajrulla Çeku's cabinet had intended this honor through another award, but along the way they had no other option but to restore the award with which - in the year of its establishment in 2017 - Ismail Kadare was honored. It had never been awarded again. In fact, it was established for Kadare.
At Tuesday's ceremony, the "Azem Shkreli" Lifetime Achievement Award and other annual awards in the field of literature were also presented.
The national literary award for lifetime achievement "Azem Shkreli" was awarded to writer Bajram Kosumi, while Ballsor Hoxha received the award for the best prose work "Anton Pashku", for the collection of stories "Crates of People".
The award for the best work in poetry “Ali Podrimja” was given to Donika Dabishevci for the book of poetry “E svetkohshmja andërr”. The award for literature for children and young people “Vehbi Kikaj” was given to Dije Demiri for the book “Ama dërun”, while the award for the best work in literary criticism and essay “Ibrahim Rugova” was shared between two scholars: Eronita Kqiku for the book “Arti i brikolazhit” and Meliza Krasniqi for the book “Shkrimtaret shqiptare 1954-1990”.
The award for the best work translated into Albanian, "Pjetër Bogdani," went to Lorenc Hajdari, for his translation of the poetry book "E thëna figurativiste," by German author Ulla Hahn.
In consultation with the Minister of Culture, the jury, composed of chairwoman Majlinda Bregasi and members Entela Tabaku, Blerina Rogova-Gaxha, Hysen Matoshi and Shpëtim Selmani, had proposed to Minister Hajrulla Çeku that the “Azem Shkreli” Lifetime Achievement Award be awarded to academician Rexhep Qosja. But the administration of the Ministry of Culture, in addition to being surprised by such a case, had also objected due to the procedure established by the Regulation for awarding prizes in literature. According to the Regulation, in order to be a laureate of the “Azem Shkreli” award, the candidate must be proposed by an institution during the period when the call is open. Academician Qosja was not proposed by anyone. KOHA has even learned that Qosja had been informed that he was a laureate. Since Minister Çeku would violate the Regulation – which the members of the jury had already violated with the proposal made – the administration of the MCYS would find a solution: returning the “Albanian Literature” award. And so, the award that was awarded to Ismail Kadare on April 6, 2017, now has a second laureate. This award was established by the former Minister of Culture, Kujtim Shala, on March 14, 2017, by amending the Regulation on Literature Awards. It was established as an international award to be awarded to personalities who, with their work, have exerted an essential influence on the emancipation of society, raising and raising general awareness of emancipatory values, with special emphasis, through the field of literature, thus influencing its recognition on an international scale. It has a financial weight of 10 thousand euros. After 2017, the MCYS has continuously overlooked this award. But it brought it to the fore again with academician Qosje. According to the Regulation, the Minister of Culture awards this award in consultation with the Book Council. Nerimane Kamberi, a member of the Book Council, was also present at the ceremony.
The Jury Report for the award of literary prizes contains the proposal for academician Qosjen. In this official document signed by all members, the jury refers to the “Albanian Literature” prize as the “Award for Literature,” which does not actually exist.
"Albanian literature, in the multifaceted dimensions of literary creativity and historical-literary and literary critical thought, has academician Rexhep Qosje as the most representative sign of its identity. His novels and plays are trends that change the Albanian literary flow of the time, detach it from the dominant conformism of the poetics of socialist realism, always remaining in search of new modern aesthetic, expressive, structural and substantive dimensions," reads the jury's motivation read at the ceremony by Minister Hajrulla Çeku. According to the motivation, with his literary work and scientific activity, Rexhep Qosje has played the role of an institution in Albanian cultural life and has created a library of scientific literature in albanology, historical-literary, critical-literary, memoiristic, and historiographical fields, while simultaneously representing a powerful intellectual voice as an active and creative protagonist in the difficult processes of major social changes in the Albanian world.
Born in Vuthaj, Montenegro in 1936, academic Qosja would complete his high school education in Guci. According to his biography, in 1959 he graduated from the Normal School in Pristina, while in 1960 he enrolled in the Department of Albanian Language and Literature of the Faculty of Philosophy in Pristina, where he graduated in 1964. In 1967 he was accepted as an assistant at the Institute of Albanian Studies in Pristina and during 1967 and 1968 he specialized in literary science in third-degree studies at the Faculty of Philology of the University of Belgrade. In 1969 he was elected a scientific associate of the Institute of Albanian Studies in Pristina. In 1971 he defended his doctoral thesis on the life and creativity of Asdren. After his doctorate, in 1972, he was elected, first as a senior associate and then as a scientific advisor at the Institute of Albanology, and then as a full professor at the Faculty of Philosophy in Prishtina. He was director of the Institute of Albanology from 1972 to 1981, head of the Albanian Literature and Language Department of the Faculty of Philosophy for many years, and, during the years 1974-1975, external editor-in-chief of the literary magazine “Jeta e Re”. Academician Qosja is the author of over 30 books with studies on literature and literary criticism, artistic prose, stories, novels and dramas, journalism and polemical writings. He has published many reviews, observations, articles, essays, treatises and studies in scientific and literary magazines, addressing in them specific issues of Albanian literature and literary creativity in general. For his scientific and literary creativity, he has been honored with many awards, including the "Honor of the Nation" from the Republic of Albania.
Academician Qosja, in his speech at the "Albanian Literature" award ceremony, said that the role of literature in this time is very important.
"In the time in which we are living, the world is experiencing rapid changes, sometimes disturbing or even frightening, literature is a comfort for us, but also a spiritual tool that helps us fight, that is, to fight for freedom, truth and justice. Literature teaches us, it shows us who we are and what we can do", said Qosja, among other things. Not far from him was Bajram Kosumi. Since the Cabinet of the Minister of Culture wanted the laureate of the national literary award for lifetime achievement "Azem Shkreli" to be academician Qosja, but this was unfeasible, the jury that had initially proposed Qosja, later decided in favor of Kosumi.
Born on March 20, 1960 in Tuxhec, Kamenica, Kosumi, a university professor and for one term also the rector of the University of Gjilan, “Kadri Zeka”, was the Prime Minister of Kosovo for one year from March 2005 to March 2006. According to his biography found on Kosumi’s website, his creative profile can be built on four parallel lines.
"In the first line is the profile of a freedom-loving activist and politician, in the second line is the profile of a publicist, in the third line is the profile of a writer and scientific researcher, and in the fourth line is his profile as an educator and leader in education and science," it is written there. He is the author of several works of various genres.
At the literary awards ceremony, Kosumi said that investing in literature is a sound strategy.
"Literature and the arts make man better, make man more humane, and make man more visionary. Therefore, investing in literature is a strategy to win and preserve man's goodness, man's humanity, and the fight for freedom," Kosumi said, among other things.
The Lifetime Achievement Award has a financial value of 5 thousand euros and the other awards are 2 thousand 500 euros. Traditionally, the MCYS has awarded these awards in celebration of Kosovo's Independence Day, on February 17, but in recent years the tradition has been broken. These awards are given as recognition and support for literary creators.
