AFA "Rugova" – Peja

Professor Thede Kahl, from the University of Vienna and the University of Jena, visited Rugova on August 30. He was received in the village of Stakaj. The recording was made in the museum room of the hotel "Kulla e Rugovasit", owned by Zymer Kurtaj. It was a working visit. He came together with his colleague Christoph Giesel. He was very happy about their arrival in this famous region of Albanian epic. The Rugova people who met these two German researchers were extremely impressed by the work they are doing for the epics and ethnoculture of our Illyrian Peninsula.

On the lute, with the musical instrument, among the oldest, Vesel Nikçi, Shtupeq i Madh, the leader of the famous indigenous folklore ensemble “Rugova”, masterfully performed. He was followed by three Rugova lute players: Hysen Rrustemi – Kurtaj from Stakaj, Asllan Ademi – Shala from Drelaj and Salih Shaban Lajçi from Shtupeq i Vogël, Nilaj neighborhood (Bollopaçë). The first two performed on the lute, with great passion like their predecessors, two fragments of songs from the Kreshnik Epic. The third had a sisterhood from Rugova’s main song about the defense of Plavë and Gucië from the attack of Montenegro. With a strong epic voice, he sang about the main characters from Rexhaj and the village of Shkrel, Adem Isufi and Rexhë Avdia. To the German researchers, very enthusiastic about the grandeur of the Rugova mountains and the welcome of their rare friend, as well as the Rugova lunch served by Eng. Vesel Nikçi, on behalf of the "Rugova" ensemble, we said that the honor belongs to you who visited us in these Alpine mountains, in the epic heroic region of Rugova.

Professor Kahl emphasized that we will be very happy to continue our collaboration with field recordings, but also to work on a joint publication of the recordings, in addition to transcription and analysis. Thede Kahl is also a member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences and the European Academy.

I would like to thank Avdi Shkreli, an Albanologist, for transporting the guests from Peja to Stakaj and Rozhajë. I would like to thank the hotel manager, Fjolla Kurtaj, for the photographs here.