Albanians of Montenegro  

Albanians in Montenegro constitute 4.91% of the county's total population.[2] Albanians of Montenegro are Ghegs[3] who mainly live in South-Eastern Montenegro, in the region commonly known as Malesija as well as in the municipality of Ulcinj (Albanian: Ulqin). The largest city of Albanians in Montenegro is Ulcinj.

Geography

In the municipality of Ulcinj, Albanians form the majority of population (70.66% according to 2011 census). A large Albanian community also exists in the Tuzi area within the Podgorica municipality (making up part of the cultural region known as Malesija). As of 2003, there were a total of 9,296 Albanians in Podgorica municipality, 2,300 of which live in Tuzi (the rest living in the rural area around Tuzi, to the north of Lake Skadar). There is also a significant presence of Albanians in parts of Plav (2,719 or 19.7%)[ and Rožaje (1,008 or 4.44%), as well as in Bar (3,036 or 7.61%), Hoti, Gruda (Grudë), Zatrijebač (Triesh]]),Koći (Kojë), and Krajina.

Culture

The government of Montenegro does very little for the Albanian minorities but it does provide some Albanian-language education in the local primary and secondary schools. There are also some university-level courses in Podgorica offered in Albanian. Montenegrin Albanian culture in this region is closely related to the culture of Albanians in Albania, and the city of Shkodër in particular. Their Albanian language dialect is Gheg as of Albanians in Northern Albania. Predominant religions of Albanians in this region are Roman Catholic and Muslim.

Tribes

There are only four remaining Malesor Albanian tribes:

Culture 

The most widespread religion among Albanians in Kosovo is Islam (mostly Sunni. The other religion Kosovar Albanians practice is Roman Catholicism). Culturally, Albanians in Kosovo are very closely related to Albanians in Albania. Traditions and customs differ even from town to town in Kosovo itself. The spoken dialect is Gheg, typical of northern Albanians. The language of state institutions, education, books, media and newspapers is the standard dialect of Albanian, which is closer to the Tosk dialect.
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Education is provided for all levels, primary, secondary, and university degrees. University of Prishtina is the public university of Kosovo, with several faculties and majors. The National Library (Alb: Bibloteka Kombëtare) is the main and the largest library in Kosovo, located in the centre of Pristina. There are many other private universities, among them American University in Kosovo (AUK), etc., and many secondary schools and colleges such as Mehmet Akif College.
Kosovafilmi is the film industry, which releases movies in Albanian, created by Kosovar Albanian movie-makers.
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The National Theatre of Kosovo (Alb: Teatri Kombëtar i Kosovës) is the main theatre where plays are shown regularly by Albanian and international artists.

Prominent People 

History and Politics
  • Ded Gjo Luli - (1840–1915) leading nationalists of the Albanian revolt against Turkey.
  • Sokol Baci - Albanian leader in the liberation of Malesia from Ottoman rule.
  • Baca Kurti Gjokaj - Albanian nationalist
  • Mehmet Kraja - prominent Albanian academic and writer.
  • Rexhep Qosja - prominent Albanian academic (lives in Kosovo)
  • Gjokë Dabaj - scholar and historian
  • Mujo Ulqinaku - officer in the Royal Albanian Army and People's Hero of Albania
  • Mark Gjonaj - politician Democratic Party for District 80 in the New York State Assembly
  • Lek Lulgjuraj - former politician and advocate of Albanian rights in Montenegro.
Science and Academia
  • Gjon Buzuku - Albanian Catholic priest who wrote the first known printed book in the Albanian language: Meshari
  • Vinçenc Malaj - Albanian Catholic priest, Albanologist.
  • Mirash Lucë Gojçaj - Albanian author, writer.
  • Nokë Sinishtaj - Albanian writer and poet
  • Fran Camaj - Albanian novelist
  • Gjelosh Gjokaj - Albanian painter, and graphic artist.
  • Anton Gojçaj - Writer and poet,known for his novel "Passio".
  • Mark Lucgjonaj - Albanian poet
Music and Entertainment
  • Emina Cunmulaj - Albanian-American model
  • Malësor Prenkoçaj - Albanian singer
  • Afërdita Dreshaj - Albanian-American model
  • Hana Cakuli - singer
  • Adrian Lulgjuraj - Albanian singer, winner of the Festivali i Këngës 51.
  • Nikollë Nikprelaj - Albanian singer
Television and Cinema
  • Nickola Shreli - Albanian-American actor
  • Victor Gojcaj - Albanian-American actor
  • Pjetër Gjoka - actor and People's Artist of Albania
  • Pjeter Malota - Albanian actor,martial artist.
  • Enver Gjokaj - Albanian-American actor
Sports
  • Ardian Đokaj - football player
  • Fatos Bećiraj - football player
  • Halil Kanacević - basketball player

Also see 

References

  1.  "Popis stanovništva, domaćinstava i stanova u Crnoj Gori 2011. godine" [Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in Montenegro 2011] (PDF) (Press release) (in Serbo-Croatian). Statistical office, Montenegro. 12 July 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
  2. "Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in Montenegro 2011" (PDF). July 12, 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  3. Simon Broughton; Mark Ellingham; Richard Trillo (1999). World music: the rough guide. Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Rough Guides. p. 5. ISBN 978-1-85828-635-8. Retrieved 13 July 2013. Most of the ethnic Albanians that live outside the country are Ghegs, although there is a small Tosk population clustered around the shores of lakes Presp and Ohrid in the south of Macedonia.
  4. http://www.njegos.org/census/index.htm
  5. Recherches albanologiques: Folklore et ethnologie (in French). Pristina: Instituti Albanologijik i Prishtinës. 1982.