Musine Kokalari died on August 13, 1983. She became one of Albania’s most prominent intellectuals. From a young age, she stood out for her literary and political work.

In 1939, while still a student, she published her first book, ‘Siç më thotë nënua plakë’ [As My Old Mother Tells Me]. Then, in 1943, she co-founded the Social Democratic Party with other intellectuals. A year later, she launched the first issue of the newspaper ‘Zëri i Lirisë’ [Freedom Voice].

In 1944, after publishing her second book, ‘Rreth vatrës’ [Around the Fireplace], her family faced persecution. On November 12, her brothers, Muntaz and Vesim Kokalari, were executed. Four days later, authorities arrested Musine. She spent 17 days in prison. In January 1946, they arrested her again and sentenced her to 20 years in prison. Then, in 1961, officials released her and interned her in Rrëshen. In 1981, she fell seriously ill, and two years later, she died. In 1993, the President awarded her posthumously the “Martyr of Democracy” medal.

In February 2022, the General Directorate of Archives received 3,112 pages of her writings from her family. These documents covered her literary, ethnographic, and political work. In addition, the archive merged these pages with her personal collection of 100 files from 1921–1983. The materials provide a detailed account of her life. Finally, the Central State Archive now stores many of her manuscripts, following her wish that part of her work be preserved there alongside materials of Sotir Kolea.

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