AFA "Rugova" – Peja

In Prishtina, the 145th anniversary of the Battle of Nokshiq on December 4, 1879, and of the battles in January 1880 of the fighters of the Albanian League of Prizren and their heroic defense of Plavë and Guci from the invasion of Montenegro was marked. The commemorative event, led by Florent Zeqaj, was held at the “Emerald” hotel on February 18, 2025. In the presence of nearly seven hundred participants, the opening speech was given by Zekë Nokshiqi, an initiator, activist, and well-known businessman in Texas. Zymer U. Neziri presented a paper at this commemorative event about Plavë and Guci and the defensive battles in the years 1879-1880. Subsequently, greetings followed from several well-known personalities: Fatmir Sejdiu, former president of the Republic of Kosovo; acad. prof. dr. Muhamet Mala; the general of the Battle of Košare, Rrustem Berisha; commander of the 136th “Rugova” Brigade, Salih B. Lajçi; the mayor of Prishtinë, Përparim Rama; Binak Ulaj, veteran of the National Movement; Flamur Gashi, activist, diplomat, and ambassador; Ramë Sinanaj, activist from Plava.

The closing speech was given by Ramiz Tafilaj, a well-known activist and businessman in Texas.

The participants of this commemorative event were also from Ulcinj, Shkodër, Lezha, Tirana, Lushnja, Kërçova, Kumanovo, Medvegjë, Bujanovac, Presevo, while the majority were from Plavë and Guci, Tregovište (Rožaje), Malësia of Gjakova and Rugova, as well as from various regions of Kosovo.

The second part of the program was the artistic performance of the dance group “Dardania”, Tropojë, directed by Shpresart Memia, as well as of the native folk ensemble “Rugova”, Shtupeq, directed by Vesel Nikçi. The lahuta player Hysen Kurtaj sang with the lahuta.

The President of the Republic of Kosovo, according to the drafter of the proposal, Zymer U. Neziri, and with the support of thirty distinguished intellectuals from higher education institutions and from the two academies of sciences and arts, as well as from seven associations from Europe and America, on February 18, 2025, decorated the fighters of the Battle of Nokshiq, December 1879, and of the battles of January 1880, with the “Hasan Prishtina” Order.

(Organizing Council: Zymer Ujkan Neziri, Zekë Nokshiqi, Ramiz Tafilaj, Bruno Selimaj, Florent Zeqaj, Binak Ulaj)

The distinguished artist VESEL NIKCI (NIKA) 

Director of the Native Folkloric Ensemble “RUGOVA” with AFA, with their songs, dances, and musical instruments, will magically and wonderfully light up the large hall with over 400 Guests of Honor at the Great National Meeting “The Epic of Nokshiq”, on February 18, 2025, at 14:00, at the “Emerald Hotel” in Prishtinë.

The Native Folkloric Ensemble “Rugova” will bring to the large hall of the five-star hotel the grandeur of the Epic of Nokshiq, where Rugova with Plavë-Guci (Nokshiq, Arrzhanicë, Pepaj, Martinaj, Hot, Vuthaj…) with all the Highlands of the North and with Albanian fighters and leaders from the four Ottoman vilayets in the Albanian national territory, marked with victory one of the greatest events of our national history from the Iron Age to the internet era, which elevated the history and glory of the Albanian State of Skanderbeg, which brought the Albanian National Independence in Vlorë in 1912 by Ismail Qemali, and inspired the War for Freedom and Independence of the Republic of Kosovo.

The Native Folkloric Ensemble “Rugova” will unfold the rituals of life and spiritual heritage of Rugova Kelmendase with Plavë-Guci and surrounding areas; they will represent the precious national treasures of the Albanian Kelmend Alps through the beauty in the art of movement, song, dance, and free art, naturally, purely, aesthetically; they will present a mine of emotions with the artistic epic full of history, while simultaneously presenting the most original symbols and expressions of the creative intuition and imagination of the Epic of Nokshiq and of national history.

The predecessors of the Native Folkloric Ensemble “Rugova” were the great force of the epic battle of Nokshiq in the 19th century, they were a pride and glory of this rare epic in world history, and likewise their descendants, today distinguished artists, will hold a great weight of the grandeur of the concert and of the Great National Meeting “The Epic of Nokshiq” on February 18, 2025, in the 21st century.

Great fortune to live one day of your life with the excellent performances of the Native Folkloric Ensemble “Rugova”, because it brings happiness in these difficult times, because it makes you feel pride in front of our national history, because life is enriched and extended with the pleasures and wonders full of high Albanian native artistic values of this 78-year-old ensemble, which is in itself a “Cultural Epic of the Popular Heritage of Rugova and Plavë-Guci, of the northern highlands, of the Albanian Nation.”

Welcome “Native Folkloric Ensemble “Rugova” to the 145th Anniversary of “The Epic of Nokshiq”!