Musine Kokalari was born on February 10, 1917, in Adana, Turkey. In 1921, her family returned to Albania and settled in Gjirokastër, where Musine attended primary school. Nine years later, the Kokalari family settled in Tirana.

In 1937, Musine graduated from the “Queen Mother” high school and then went to study at the University of Rome, Italy.

She published her first book “What my old mother tells me” in 1939.

In 1940, Musine published an Italian-Albanian linguistic dictionary. Unfortunately, this dictionary has not been found and thus has not been republished. During 1940-1942, Musine Kokalari documents her feelings and impressions experienced during her studies in a foreign country that was under the fascist regime. These documentations were written in the form of a personal diary in the Italian language called originally “La Mia Vita Universitaria” (“My university life”). Musine, intended to publish this genuine work first in Italy, in the Italian language. However, she did not have the opportunity to realize this ambition during her lifetime. In early 1942, Musine graduates from the university with distinguished remarks after four years filled with studies and research work.  

It was 1943, when Musine Kokalari, together with some other friends, formed the Social Democratic Party. A year later, with her efforts, the first issue of the newspaper “Voice of Freedom” was published. In 1944, she published her second book “Around the fireplace”, while on November 12 of the same year, her brothers, Muntaz and Vesim Kokalari, were shot. Four days later they arrested Musine and kept her in prison for 17 days.

In January 1945, Musine Kokalari’s third book “Sa u tund jeta” was published.

On January 23, 1946, she was arrested for the second time by the People’s Defense forces. Considered an opponent of the communist regime, she was sentenced to 20 years in prison, to be released in 1961 and then exiled for another 22 years in Rrëshen.

Retired on half pay, in 1981, she fell ill with cancer, which would take her away forever two years later.

/a.p./