DiTV - Video about immigration of Dibrans

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwniB_rhHYg

Dibra Lake 2011

Always a pleasure to look at and it's the only thing that still attracts me to travel over 3,000 miles away, two transfer flights, and go through the balkan border experience and the great nation of "Macedonia".

Mixergy.com - interview with Ilir Sela, founder of Mypizza.com

Mixergy.com is a website that presents visitors with ideas and inspiration by presenting stories of successful upstart businesses and their founders. This month, they featured an interview of Dibra's own, Ilir Sela, founder of mypizza.com

Scanderbeg's great grandson visits Dibra

The great grandson of Ggjergj Kastrioti (George Castrioti), the Albanian Hero and legendary commander visited Dibra e madhe recently.

Georgo Maria Kastriota currently resides in Napoli, Italy. He is the 14th generation of the legendary Albanian Hero. "I have come to my house" he declared in Dibra.

It is widely accepted that George Kastrioti was from the Dibra area. It was in Dibra where he first returned to Albania and with 300 Dibran reinforcements he began his journey to Kruja and to the heroic 20 year resistance to the Ottoman Empire.

Shoqata Atdhetare Dibrane - Version 2011.1

There seems to be renewed energy from Shoqata Atdhetare Dibrane, a non for profit organization based in New York. Let's hope that the new director (Ilir Rusi) and new website (dibra.us) will produce more fruitful results and provide the Dibran community in New York with much needed portal and community services then the previous board of directors.



Here is a list of the current members:

Executive Officers/ Ekzekutive

Ilirian Rusi - Chairman/Kryetar
Agron Sela - Vice-Chairman/Nën-kryetar

Abduraman Duka – Treasurer/Arkëtar

Ago Maqellara - Treasurer/Arkëtar

Selaudin Radoveshi – Asst.Treasurer/Ndihmës Arkëtari

Adriatik Pilku - Secretary/Sekretar & Executive Director

Muharem Borova – Asst.Secretary/Ndihmës Sekretari

Board of Trustees/ Bordi Drejtues

Adice Veliu

Bajram Dede

Bardhul Mashkulli
Bardhul Kllobocishta

Besim Ramadani

Bujar Sezairi

Daut Ame

Xheladin Pjeca

Dritan Kllobocishta

Fisnik Daci

Haxhi Maqellara

Ibrahim Kolari

Muharem Shehu

Selman Ferati

Ylber Pilku

Albanian Parliament Design Proposal

The Viennese architectural firm of COOP HIMMELB(L)AU has won the first prize for their design of the new Albanian Parliament building in the capital Tirana. The design concept incorporates fundumental democratic values such as openess, transparency and public co determionation.

Blerim Cami - American Success Story

Here is a short interview with Blerim Cami, The Dibran Bussinessman who in just 8 years, was able to move to New york from Dibra and realize the American dream. Blerim studied veterinary medicine in Zagreb, Croatia. After graduation he moved to New York where he was forced to shift professions, take on various jobs and through Dibran wits and perseverance, he was able to save enough money and invest in opening his own Allstate Branch which he now runs and manages.

In Memory of
Richard Holbrooke
April 24, 1942 - December 13, 2010

One of my favorite US Diplomats who was active in the Balkans and one of the only supporters of Albanians During their struggle with Milosevic's regime.

Thank you from all Albanians

A.Sela

Popular Dibran Games

For those of us that grew up in Diber, the following excerpts from a book by Mojsi Lutfiu should bring back some pleasant memories of our childhood and youth. Enjoy

Perkujtim

Të Martën në 28 Shtator 2010, ndroi jetë një nga atdhetarët Dibran, zoti Ekrem Klloboçista. Ekrem Klloboçista lindi me 25 Qershor 1931 në Dibrën e Madhe, në Dibrën e Skenderbeut, Mojsiut, Iljas Pash Dibrës, Haxhi Vebi Dibrës, Hoxh Voglit, Ramiz Dacit, Eles Jusufit, Suf Xhelilit…
U rrit dhe u formua me idealet e këtyre burrave që ja kushtuan tërë jetën e tyre luftës përë liri e pamvarsi kombëtare. Duke u rritur me idealet e këtyrre burrave dhe duke përjetuar shtypjen që u bëhej shqiptarve në trojet e tyre stërgjyshore në ish Jugoslovinë titiste, Ekremi, me sjelljet dhe aktivitetet e tija pëkrahëse ndaj bashkaqytetarëve dibran, filloi te bie ne syte e UDB-ës (sigurimit Jugosllove), dhe mbas shumë malltretimeve dhe disa burgimeve, nuk I mbet rrugë tjetër përveç largimit nga vendlindja e tij e dashur.
Në vitin 1958, Ekremi nga Slovenija kaloi kufirin për ne Italin, dhe mbas një qëndrimi të shkurtër u vendos në Francë. Mbas 2 vitesh punë te rëndë mërgimtari, organizoi emigrimin e familjes të tij duke kaluar ilegalisht për mes Jugoslavisë rankoviçjane, duke kaluar në këmbë kufijtë e Jugoslavisë, Italisë dhe Francës me burra, gra, e fëmi. Ne
ato rredhana të veshtira politko-ekonomike, bashkimi I tij me bashkeshorten Amijet, femijet Mensur, Afrim dhe Flora, me vëllezërit Fuat dhe Ziain me bashkeshorten e tij Zarifko dhe foshjen, Afërdita, ishte një mrekulli për gjithë Dibranët.
Ne vitin 1962, Ekremi bashkë me familjen e tij, arrijti ne SHBA, ku vazhdoi si gjithmonë, me dedikim te plotë, punën e tij te palodhshme për familjen dhe kombin. Ekremi, qe I pari nga Dibra e Madhe që emigroi në SHBA familjarisht. Shtëpija e tij u bë çerdhe strehimi dhe stabilizimi jo vetëm për emigrantët Dibran, por edhe për gjithë bashkadhetarët e tij nga të gjitha krahinat shqiptare, pa dallim feje e ideologjie. Ekrem Klloboçista që në ditët e para në Amerikë, filloi aktivitet e tija patriotike, kombëtare e familjare. Ishte pjesmarës i komisionit për ngritjen e xhamisë të parë shqiptare në Brooklyn. Pak kohë më pas, Ekremi, me nje grup të vogël Dibranësh themeloj xhamin e parë shqiptare në Staten Island. Kështu, shqiptarët muslimanë skishin më nevojë për tu falë ne shtëpinë e Ekrem Klloboçistës gjatë muit të ramazanit, siç kishin vrepuar deri sa u hap xhamija e Staten Island-it. Këto qendra fetare shërbyen dhe vazhdojnë të shërbejnë për organizimin e festave kombëtare e fetare dhe si shkolla për mesimin e gjuhës tone të bukur shqipe.
Si atdhetar në shpirt që ishte, në filim te viteve 70-të Ekremi, asistoi ambasadorin e Shqipërisë pranë OKB-ës, Dibranin Sami Baholi, me punime ndërtimore për zyrat dhe banesat e punonjësve të Misionit të Shqipërisë pranë OKB-ës.
Ekremi, dashamirës I edukimit dhe i emancipinit, qe një familjar I përkushtuar. Ai I rriti femijt me tradita dhe zakone shqiptare,
Familjes të madhe Klloboçista, bashkëshortes të tij të nderuar, zonjës Amijet: djemve Mensurit, Afrimit, dhe Shpetimit: Vajzave Florës e Zirakës si dhe gjitha niprave e mbesave u paraqesim ngushëllimet tona të thella për humbjen e bashkoshortit, babait, dhe gyshit. Të njejtat ngushëllime u paraqesim vellezërve të Ekremit, Ziait, Fuatit, dhe Remziut, si dhe gjithë farafisit të tij këtu në SHBA dhe në Dibër, paharruar xhaxhain e tij të ndëruar, adhtetarin Shefqet Klloboçista.

I dashuri mik dhe vellu im, Ekrem, pusho I qetë në botën e amshueshme.
Të qoftë I lehtë dheu I huaj.

I PERJETSHËM KUJTIMI TIJ!
********Miftar Gjini ********
Waterbury, Connecticut SHBA

Dibra featured as a background on bing.com

August 25, 2010, the background of the microsoft website bing.com featured a panoramic picture of Dibra and surrounding area.

Albanian Olive Pickers - by John Singer Sargent

by Arben Sela

Recently I purchased a book on John Singer Sargent, the great american oil painter of the late 19th and early 20th century. I have always admired his work in oil and watercolor and while doing some additional research on his work, I was happy to discover that he has done a painting of Albanian theme!

The painting is called Albanian Olive Pickers, and it was painted in 1909.

Albanian Olive Pickers

John Singer Sargent

1909

Albanian Folklore - Blood Feud "Gjakmarrja"

Behind The Sun – by Walter Salles
Behind the Sun (Portuguese title: Abril Despedaçado) is a 2001 Golden Globe-nominated Brazilian film.

Its original Portuguese title means Shattered April, and it is based on the novel of the same name (original Albanian title: Prill i Thyer) written by the Albanian writer Ismail Kadare, about the honor culture (Gjakmarje) in the North of Albania.

The director of the movie, Walter Salles, has brilliantly adapted the film from the northern mountains of Albania to a setting in 1910 Brazil.

Plot Summary:
In the Brazilian badlands of 1910, two families are locked in a deadly feud. Tonho, the middle son of the Breves family, is ordered by his father to avenge the death of his older brother, the victim of an age-old feud between families over the ownership of the land. If he carries out his mission, Tonho knows that his life will be divided in two: the twenty years he has already lived, and the short time he has left to live. He will then probably be killed by a member of the rival family, as dictated by the code of vengeance of the region. Distressed by prospect of death and urged on by his younger brother Pacu, Tonho begins to question the logic of the tradition of violence. Just when it seems there is no way out, Tonho’s life is changed when he meets a young girl who is part of a performing circus passing in his town

Broken April by Ismail Kadare
As mentioned bove, Behind the Sun is based on the Albanian book “Broken April” or “Prilli I Thyer” in Albanian.
It is a novel by award winning Albanian author Ismail Kadare. Published in 1978, the book explores one of Kadare's recurring themes; how the past affects the present.
The story tells of Gjorg Berisha, a 26-year-old Albanian man living on the high mountains of Albania. He is forced to commit a murder under the laws of the Kanun, a 15th Century Albanian Code of Laws. As a result of this killing, his own death is sealed; he is to be killed by a member of the opposing family.

Broken April was lauded by reviewers upon its release. The New York Times described it as "written with masterly simplicity in a bardic style", whilst Wall Street Journal declared Kadare was "one of the most compelling novelists now writing in any language."

Kadare’s works have been translated into a dozen languages, and in France, those books have been bestsellers.

Dr. Robert Elsie - Specialist in Albanian Studies

by Arben Sela

For those of you who have yet to read the work of Dr. Robert Elsie, I encourage you to start at www.elsie.de. A specialist in Albanian studies, Dr. Robert Elsie has composed an impressive collection of work in Albanian history, photography and Literature.

I recently had an email exchange with Dr. Elsie regarding posting his articles on this blog and this is what he had to say about Dibra:

"Dear Arben,
Yes, of course you can use the Doda text and anything else you want from my websites.
There is also a text called "Dole of Dibra" on www.AlbanianHistory.net (1913) about the terrible massacres that took place in the region in 1912-1913.
And I hope you have seen the photo of Dibra from 1863, no doubt the oldest photo ever made of the town

http://www.albanianphotography.net/en/szekely_photos.html

Congratulations on your work for the Dibra region, which is often forgotten. I was there last spring in Peshkopia and Dibra (MK) and was very impressed by the beautiful countryside.
Best wishes,
Robert Elsie "

Albanian Folk Music

by Arben Sela

There isnt alot of things that I love more then Albanian Music. From the sounds of the Ciftelia and Lahuta of the North, to the poliphonic chants and clarinet dances of the south.

What I am refering to is mostly folk music, because the state of Albanian pop music, and mainstream wedding music is beyond recognition in my opinion. Albanian rock and serenata music has for the most part survived the pollution and there remains a substantial number of good albanian rock and serenata singers.

Below is a few samples of Albanian folk music that I have found on Youtube and linked here to show the beauty and complex rhythm and history of this beautiful form of music.

I also want to note that all the samples below are performed by non Albanians.


Albanian Tango by Maxmaber Orkestar


Albanian Ladies Dance by Freccia Blu


Albanian Valle by Lorna Pollock

Nikola Tesla

Nikola Tesla

By Afrim Pocesta

Nikola Tesla, scientist, electrical, & mechanical engineer, inventor and a sheer genius was born in what is today Croatia to Serbian parents, but was part of Austo-Hungarian empire in the 19th Century. (10 July 1856 – 7 January 1943).

You might ask yourself why would someone write about a Serbian/American scientist in a blog that has a theme about Dibra? here is the simple answer.

For some of us who grew up in the old country (Yugo), and were high school age when we left for USA, we took pride in knowing that we were from the same country as he was. Of course, all this was before we started killing each other, which is another unavoidable topic for the future. Also, in me field of work, some of the fundamental concepts that we use in every project, are Nikola Tesla's.

Nikola Tesla was an unsung hero of his time. His genius was not understood most of the time by many. Those who did understand him, exploited his ideas, robbed him financially, humiliated him publicly. Once it was revealed that Tesla's theories were superior to all his contemporaries. The world famous Thomas Edison had a public smear campaign against Tesla where he would electricute elephants at Coney Island's boardwalk to demonstrate that Tesla's high voltage transmission is very dangerous and it would kill people. Ultimately, Tesla's won the 'Current Wars' , as it was known back then. Tesla's 'AC' or alternating current is still used today to transmit electricity.

Tesla contributed to an array of sciences: electromagnetism, elecromechanical engineering, robotics, remote control, radar, radio, and so many more.

In a classic case of theft of scientific discovery, Guglielmo Marconi and Italian electrical engineer and inventor in 1909 was awarded the Nobel prize for inventing radio, or (wireless telegraph), which Tesla had discovered. Finally, in 1943 The U.S. Supreme Court credited Tesla as being the true inventor of radio transmission.

Some of Tesla's theories are still studied to this day by academics, scientist, and yes, defense departments for military applications. Some scientist think he was 100 years ahead of his time, man of the future as he was sometime called. Tesla was an honorary citizen in many countries. There are streets in many major cities around the world who are named after him, 80's rock band, future electrical cars, newborn babies, companies, hundreds of societies around the world are named in his honor, and probably many other things that i'm not aware of. As recent as few years ago the famous David Bowie portrayed Tesla in the movie The 'Prestige'. The film The film features Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale.

As brilliant Engineer and inventor Tesla was, he was a lousy businessman and was always taken advantage of financially from those around him.

He died alone and broke in January 7th 1943 at the famous Manhattan New Yorker Hotel where he lived for a long time.

Here is a very resourceful web site about the life and work of Nikola Tesla that PBS dedicated in his honor: http://www.pbs.org/tesla/

My favorite spot in Diber

by Arben Sela

I am not sure how old the tree is, but its one of the favorite spots of lake visitors during the summer. It used to be just a beach area but now its a cafe, and its one of the best spots to get a drink, play "gjol" and enjoy the lake view.

CBS Special - The Righteous

Besa - the Albanian code of honor and word of honor that is the ultimate promise. The below link is a CBS special that aired on November, 2009. It tells the story of Albanian families taking in fleeing Jewish families and protecting them by the code of Besa.

Under the code of Besa, Albanians are required to treat and protect house guests, eventhough they are complete strangers, as if they are family and assure their safety, even if it means risking their own lives.

Please click on the link below for the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj8MgeFzTqA

Book excerpt - High Albania by Edith Durham

A short excerpt regarding builders/architects of Dibra, from the book High Albania by Edith Durham. This specific piece calls the people of Dibra as the best church builders in Malsia.

Edith Durham was an Englishwoman who visited Malesia e Madhe early in the 20th century and eventually fell in love with Albanian culture and costumes and received the title "Queen of the highlands" for her support of the Albanian cause and national identity.

One of the best books I have read on the subject of Albanian History. Its a great travel account and entertaining as a novel. You can purchase it on Amazon.com or find it in a digital form in the link below:

http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/durham/albania/albania.html

Enigma - 80's Dibra Band

Enigma was a rock band from Dibra, mainly during the 1980's. Their music, style and culture was way beyond any existing band in Dibra or from Dibra today, at least that I am aware of. I will try and collect more information on their history and possibly post some photos and music. Below is just one of their songs that I found on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xbo1ekjyLBk