Today is the 143d death anniversary of the Albanian folklorist, writer, economist, ideologue of the National Renaissance Zef Jubani.

He was born in Shkodër in 1818. Zef Jubani studied in Malta, where he completed commercial high school. Over time, Zefi came into commercial contact with the English and Italians and, influenced by the ideas of the time, began to awaken patriotic feelings that over time strengthened his love for the country and the desire for the freedom of the homeland from the foreign yoke. After his father was killed, in 1841 Zefi returned to his homeland and to Shkodër, where he was charged with various tasks by the government; for a time he was charged with the task of supplying grain to the population of the country.

In 1848 Zef Jubani entered the service of the French consulate. Consul Hecquard had Zefi under his patronage. He can be considered one of the first forerunners of the Renaissance, a cultured personality equipped with patriotic and progressive ideas. He has always been an opponent of the foreign Catholic clergy. From that time he had a good psychology of the people of Shkodra. His patriotic activity did not coincide with the mentality of the feudal class, therefore he was despised; his works for a long time remain silent, his contribution to the historical, folklore and literary field was evaluated with reservations due to the pressure of some conservative and anti-national circles.
In 1862 he collaborated in the organisation of the anti-Ottoman movement of Mirdita. Author of the works: “Compendium of folk songs and rhapsody of Albanian poems”, “Actuality of the people of Northern Albania”, “Controversies on the moral and intellectual state of the Albanian people”, etc. In 1871, he published in Trieste “Compendium of popular songs and Albanian rhapsody”: The importance of this book lies in the fact that it is the first compilation of folklore by an Albanian author in the country. Historical songs with a patriotic theme have their own special value, which inspired popular masses and things for national liberation. In the book, the author has also included some creations of other authors, as well as a beautiful poem by an anonymous author entitled “Zâni i kasnecëvë”, this poem was a dedication against the Turkish invaders, beautifully constructed artistically and with clear patriotic orders. It was also translated into French and had reprints.

Pashko Vasa was also inspired by it and wrote the poem “O moj Shqypni”. Jubani also wrote other books on historical and economic topics, but also the book “History of Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg”, which remained unfinished and unpublished. In 1878, in Venice, he published the work “Project of sailing with Italian steamers in the Adriatic, trade of Venice with Albania”. Zef Jubani was for the economic development of the country, for the construction of roads and railways, for the creation of economic societies, for the establishment of public enterprises, for the further development of foreign trade. He demanded that the teachers be local, that education should have a national, democratic and secular character. He is known as the creator of a special Latin-based alphabet. As a patriot and thinker, he gave a great help to the Albanian National Movement. He passed away on February 1, 1880 in Shkodër.

/k.s/