O moj Shqypni
Encyclopedia
O Moj Shqypni is a poem written by Pashko Vasa
, a writer and activist of the Albanian National Awakening, around 1878-80. A critique of religious and political factionalism, the poem is considered to be one of the most important and influential literary works of the Albanian National Awakening and the best known work of Pashko Vasa, while its verse The faith of the Albanian is Albanianism has become the motto
of various Albanian organizations.
it was disseminated in the form of brochures and flyers. Two other versions have been found in Thimi Mitko
's archives in Alexandria and those of Jeronim de Rada in Cosenza. Found in 1975 the latter version unlike the other two has a different first verse, which is Mori Shqypni instead of Moj Shqypni. It was originally considered to have been transcribed by Vasa, but eventually it was proven that it's a transcription of Sami Frashëri, another important Albanian writer of the era.
Pashko Vasa wrote the poem during the era of the formation of the League of Prizren
, which sought to unify all Albanian-inhabited areas into one single state entity and later adopted the verse The faith of the Albanian is Albanianism of the poem as its motto. O Moj Shqypni contains the widespread view among Albanian intellectuals, which considered the overcoming of religious division as a way to reinforce national consciouness that could be realized by replacing the importance of religion with that of Albanian culture and patriotism. The poem criticizes political and cultural factionalism, which Vasa considered an obstacle to national unity.
and has been described as one of the most influential and most important poems written in Albanian. Its verse The faith of the Albanian is Albanianism was the motto of the League of Prizren
and in modern times remains the motto of various Albanian nationalist organizations. During the assemblies of 1910 the music director of the orchestra of Vlorë
melodized the poem.
Pashko Vasa
Pashko Vasa also known as Vaso Pasha or Vaso Pashë Shkodrani, was an Albanian writer, poet and publicist of the Albanian National Awakening, and Governor of Lebanon from 1882 until his death.-Secretary in the British Consulate:From 1842 to 1847 he worked as a secretary for the...
, a writer and activist of the Albanian National Awakening, around 1878-80. A critique of religious and political factionalism, the poem is considered to be one of the most important and influential literary works of the Albanian National Awakening and the best known work of Pashko Vasa, while its verse The faith of the Albanian is Albanianism has become the motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
of various Albanian organizations.
Content
Written in Vasa's native dialect of Shkodër O Moj Shqypni is a 72-verse poem, which was first published by the Czech linguist Jan Urban Jarnik in his work Zur Albanesische Sprachenkunde published in 1881. Throughout the Ottoman EmpireOttoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
it was disseminated in the form of brochures and flyers. Two other versions have been found in Thimi Mitko
Thimi Mitko
Thimi Mitko was an Albanian rilindas and folklorist.Mitko was born in Korçë, Albania , where he attended the local Greek school. His uncle, Peti Mitko, had been one of the leaders of the Albanian Revolt of 1847 in Korçë and Tepelenë against the Turkish Tanzimat legislation...
's archives in Alexandria and those of Jeronim de Rada in Cosenza. Found in 1975 the latter version unlike the other two has a different first verse, which is Mori Shqypni instead of Moj Shqypni. It was originally considered to have been transcribed by Vasa, but eventually it was proven that it's a transcription of Sami Frashëri, another important Albanian writer of the era.
Pashko Vasa wrote the poem during the era of the formation of the League of Prizren
League of Prizren
The League for the Defense of the Rights of the Albanian Nation commonly known as the League of Prizren was an Albanian political organization founded on 10 June 1878 in Prizren, in the Kosovo province of the Ottoman Empire....
, which sought to unify all Albanian-inhabited areas into one single state entity and later adopted the verse The faith of the Albanian is Albanianism of the poem as its motto. O Moj Shqypni contains the widespread view among Albanian intellectuals, which considered the overcoming of religious division as a way to reinforce national consciouness that could be realized by replacing the importance of religion with that of Albanian culture and patriotism. The poem criticizes political and cultural factionalism, which Vasa considered an obstacle to national unity.
Legacy
O Moj Shqypni is considered to be one of the most influential works of 19th century Albanian literatureAlbanian literature
The Albanian literature is the literature written by Albanians.-Renaissance:The expansion of the Ottoman Empire pushed many Albanians from their homeland during the period of the Western European Renaissance humanism...
and has been described as one of the most influential and most important poems written in Albanian. Its verse The faith of the Albanian is Albanianism was the motto of the League of Prizren
League of Prizren
The League for the Defense of the Rights of the Albanian Nation commonly known as the League of Prizren was an Albanian political organization founded on 10 June 1878 in Prizren, in the Kosovo province of the Ottoman Empire....
and in modern times remains the motto of various Albanian nationalist organizations. During the assemblies of 1910 the music director of the orchestra of Vlorë
Vlorë
Vlorë is one of the biggest towns and the second largest port city of Albania, after Durrës, with a population of about 94,000 . It is the city where the Albanian Declaration of Independence was proclaimed on November 28, 1912...
melodized the poem.