Musine Kokalari, prose writer, was born in Adana, Turkey, in a family from Gjirokastra that returned to their homeland in 1920. She pursued higher studies in literature and graduated from the University of Rome (1938–1941). Returned to her homeland in 1942. Was one of the founders of the Albanian Social Democratic Party (1944); after liberation, she was imprisoned and interned as a political opponent of the regime. She died in internment in Rrëshen. While still a student, published the book of sketches and stories “Siç më thoshte nënua plakë” (“As my elderly grandmother used to tell me”) (1939), which aroused interest. Then she published the books “Rreth vatrës” (“Around the hearth”) (1944), as well as “…sa u tunt jeta” (1944). From the first book, the realistic colors of the description, knowledge of life, psychology and folk customs are noticeable. The collection “Siç më thoshte nënua plakë” (“As my elderly grandmother used to tell me”) is dedicated to the life in Gjirokastër and is written according to the dialect of the city, to give the prose an authentic color. On January 23, 1946, she was arrested by the People’s Defense Forces and the court sentenced her to 20 years in prison. In 1961, she was released from prison and interned to Rrëshen, where she worked in agriculture and as a mortar worker. In 1981, fell ill with cancer, which would take her away forever two years later. Ten years later, in 1993, the President of the Republic awarded her the “Martyr of Democracy” medal posthumously. (In the photo: Musine Kokalari wearing a folk costume; Musine Kokalari during the court session.)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 2, Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2008, page 1204.
Photo: © https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musine_Kokalari
Graphic processing: AHCF
