AFA "Rugova" – Peja

This year’s Meetings of Hoti i Kujit were successfully carried out, stated the well-known painter Kaltrina Hoti, educated in the USA and the gracious host of this important ethno-cultural event. The local representative, Ibër Hoti, expressed the same sentiment.

On July 10, in Hoti i Kujit, Plavë Municipality, the sound of the Lahuta resonated at the 7th consecutive Festival, “Lahuta, Ocarina, Polyphony,” organized by the tireless Sokol Plakolli from “Shkabat” in Prishtina. There were also lahuta players from Kelmendi and Rugova: Dinë Sinanaj, Hysen Kurtaj, Asllan Shala, Pretash Nilaj, and Xhavit Balidemaj.

The scholarly book by Zymer Ujkan Neziri, dedicated to the Epic of the Kreshniks today in five Balkan countries, was also inaugurated, with a presentation by Prof. Dr. Albin Sadiku from the Albanological Institute. The author of the book stated that our epic now holds great recognition even in the world of science in Europe and in major research centers, from the famous Harvard University in the USA to the Academy of Sciences of China.

The words of the Albanian ambassador in Podgorica, Mrs. Zhaklina Pepa, as well as those of the Kosovo consul, Mr. Ejup Ismajli, were important and very encouraging. The presence of the local intellectual Binak Ulaj, a veteran of the National Movement, was also highlighted. Actor Halil Tetaj presented selected verses from Gjergj Fishta’s “Lahuta e Malcisë” to the attendees. The presence of television teams from Kosovo, RTK and Fontana, was also particularly significant.

The responsible and successful director of the Meetings of Hoti i Kujit was the local student Ledina Haxhaj, a member of this honored family of the Malësia e Madhe region and a well-known name in the history of Northern Albania. With the dances of the girls from Hoti and the “Malësia e Rozhajës” association from Tregovishtë, led by activist Ali Daci, the event concluded on the lands of the Haxhaj, Sinanaj, Hysenaj, Mujaj, and Mehaj families, descendants of Dedë Nika, who produced distinguished and brave men. Today, most of their descendants live nostalgically in the diaspora, far from these lands of rare beauty in the Albanian Alps. The hospitality was exceptionally fraternal, accompanied by a wedding-style lunch offered to all participants of the Meetings.