The National Center for Books and Reading (QKLL) has unveiled the fourth edition of the prestigious “Lumo Skëndo” Prize, a tribute not only to the towering intellectual figure of Mid’hat Frashëri but also to the enduring power of publicism and essay writing as literary forms that shape thought, inspire discourse, and leave a lasting imprint on society.

This award is dedicated to the finest work in publicism or essay writing published over the past year. It holds great cultural and intellectual weight, elevating a genre essential to the evolution of Albanian thought and the vitality of national discourse, stated Alda Bardhyli, director of QKLL.

The esteemed jury presiding over this year’s edition is chaired by Professor Belina Budini and includes distinguished members: Uran Butka, a noted scholar of Mid’hat Frashëri’s legacy; academic Anastas Angjeli; and celebrated journalists Rudina Xhunga and Aida Tuci.

The selection process is underway, with a remarkable array of entries. This year’s competition is further enriched by a new work from the renowned intellectual Rexhep Qosja. Additionally, some of the most respected voices in Albanian media—Sokol Balla, Ilir Ekonomi, Eni Vasili, Luan Rama, and others—are part of this literary race, making it an exceptional edition, Bardhyli remarked.

The “Lumo Skëndo” Prize will be awarded on March 25, marking the 145th anniversary of the birth of one of Albania’s greatest literary minds.

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