The poet, ethnographer and prominent Arbëresh publicist, Zef Skiroi is born on August 10, 1865.

Quite early, having learned to read and write, he composed a poem for the national hero, George Kastriot Skanderbeg, building the foundation and the groundwork for the upcoming generations. In 1890, he appointed “docent” of ancient literature at the “Garibaldi High School” in Palermo and then head of the Albanian Language and Literature Chair at the Royal Oriental Institute of Naples. He gave valuable contribution in the rise of the Arber culture.

In 1887, together with Fançesk Peta, he established the “Arbëri i ri” (New Albanian) magazine in Palermo. The periodical prints of magazine served as an identity compass for Arbers but also as a forum of creativity for the authors of the community. In this way, Serembe, Crispi, Variboba and many other authors produced significant content in its numbers. Skiroi continued his albanological activity with publications, lectures and participation in congresses. His main works remain “Mili e Hajdhia” and “Te dheu i huaj” (On the foreign soil). In 1927, the outstanding personality of Arber literature and culture passed away in Naples.

Today, the General Directorate of Archives published the telegram of Djelmuni of Elbasan, which dated on July 23, 1913, which welcomed Professor Skiroi to independent Albania.

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