Nexhat Hakiu, the lyric poet, was born in Vlora. He completed commercial secondary school in his hometown and later graduated from the Higher Technical Institute of Thessaloniki. In the 1930s and 1940s, he was one of the most popular names in literary circles. He first worked as a journalist and teacher of literature. Then he became a regular collaborator of the literary and cultural organs of the time, such as “Bota e re”, “Illyria”, “Albanian Effort”. Together with other well-known names of culture, such as Mitrush Kuteli, Vedat Kokona and Sterjo Spasse, he was among the founders of the “Literary Magazine” (1944). He directed the magazine “Shkëndija” and the newspaper “Bashkimi i Kombit”, in which he wrote under the pseudonyms Ali Drëvella and Nexhat Mahmut Hakiu. In addition to the publications in the press of the time, he published the poetic volumes “Këngët e zambares” (1939) and “Blood songs” (1944). After the liberation, he published the poetry collections “Këndoj” (1958), “Fjala ime” (1961), “Një lule mbolla” (1973) and “Në garë me stinët” (1977). During communism, he was sentenced for political motives, from December 1944 to July 1945, and from February 1951 to April 1952. He died at the age of 61, on June 18th, 1978. (In the photo: Nexhat Hakiu)
Text: National Museum “House with Leaves”.
Photo: © http://www.panorama.com.al/
Graphic processing: AHCF
