On January 17, 1468, George Kastrioti Skanderbeg, the most monumental personality in the history of the Albanian nation, passed away. In the history of Albania, the figure of Skanderbeg synthesizes the era of the fight and resistance against the Ottomans for the defense of the country’s freedom and independence. Considered the protector of European Christianity, George Kastrioti took center stage in many works of the writers of the European Renaissance. Napoleon Bonaparte places Skanderbeg among the 4 great generals of the world.

On January 17, 1880, the painter Ndoc Martini was born in Shkodër. With the insistence of Kolë Idromeno, he continued his schooling in Italy. He enrolled in the Arbëresh college of Saint Miter Korona, where he studied painting. The ceiling of one of the halls of this College is painted with frescoes by Ndoc Martini. One of his best works is that of Martini, who is considered one of the most accomplished painters during the period of the National Renaissance. He died passed away in Paris at the age of 37.

On January 17, 1912, Mandi Koçi was born in Voskopoja. He was photographer, the first Albanian cameraman, known by the nickname MAK. Educated at the French Lyceum of Korça, in 1930, he left for Greece where he learned the profession of photographer. Upon his return to homeland, he opened the first photo studio with electric lighting in Korça. In 1947, he opened the first photography exhibition abroad, in Moscow. Studies as a cinematographer in Russia brought him back to his homeland as a creator who contributed to the creation of the “New Albania” Movie Studios. From 1954 to 1960, Koçi shot about 15 documentary movies and then the first Albanian feature film “Tana”. In 1960, he was arrested and sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment, under the charge of agitation and propaganda against the communist regime. Mandi Koçi, a talented cinematographer and photographer, spent the last years of his freedom in an asylum, where he passed away in 1982.

January 17, 1921 is the Artillery Day of the Albanian Army.

On January 17, 1947, the well-known stage and screen actor Roland Trebicka was born in Korça. Roland Trebicka’s career as an actor begins with the role of Kosta, in the movie “Debatik”, in 1961. At a young age, he worked as an actor in “Army’s Theater”. In 1971, he became part of the National Theatre. He reached the peak of public success with the role of Jovan Bregu in the comedy “Pallati 176” /Building 176/. Among the roles in cinematography, it is worth mentioning “Dream about a Chair” (Vaska) and Concert in 1936 (Nasi). For art lovers of the stage, the roles in “The Great Magic”, “Don Juan”, “Inspector” /The Auditor/, “A man with a rose”, “The King is dying” are unforgettable. Trebicka was nominated for the “Best Supporting Actor” Award at the International Experimental Theater Festival in Cairo. He was honored with the title of Merited Artist and Honorary Citizen of Korça. Roland Trebicka passed away in Tirana on March 6, 2013.

On January 17, 1982, the Kosovan poet and publicist Jusuf Gërvalla was murdered. He was born in Deçan on October 1, 1945. He wrote poetry and prose for adults. He was heard as a publicist and one of the active journalists in the Kosovan emigration press in the west.

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