Zef Jubani
Encyclopedia
Zef Jubani born Zef Ndokillia was an Albanian
folklorist, philosopher and activist of the Albanian National Awakening. He is known for the publication of a Collection of Albanian Folk Songs and Rhapsodies in the Gheg Albanian
dialect. Jubani advocated the creation of a unique alphabet of the Albanian language. For his political activities, which often were anti-clericalist
Jubani was denounced to the Holy See
by the Jesuit missionaries of Shkodër.
, modern Albania
to a notable merchant family from the nearby village of Juban. He initially studied in Shkodër and later continued his studies in Malta
, where his uncle lived. After returning to Shkodër he worked since 1848 as a secretary to the French consul of the city and also became the assistant of the vice consul of the United Kingdom in 1853. Jubani spent a significant part of his life in Trieste
, Venice
and modern Montenegro
.
. The Collection of Albanian Folk Songs and Rhapsodies is the first collection of folk songs in the Gheg Albanian
dialect and the first folklore work published by an Albanian who lived in Albania. The book was published along with two political and philosophical studies of Jubani the Current situation of the population of northern Albania and Thoughts on the moral situation and intellectual culture of the Albanian people , which were introductory to his main work.
In the two introductory studies Jubani advocated for the formation of a literary commission for the purification of the Albanian language and the promotion of Albanian literature. Jubani also supported the creation of a unique alphabet for the Albanian language, arguing that since Albanian was a unique language, it should have a separate alphabet, and wrote a grammar textbook of the Albanian language. In Trieste he became one of the editors of a local newspaper and in 1873 he edited and translated from Ottoman Turkish
to Italian Law, appendix and procedure of the Ottoman commerce , a book about commerce practices in the Ottoman Empire. In 1878 he published in Venice a pamphlet to encourage the use of steamships in routes between Albania and Italy. Jubani's study On the Albanian poetry and music was among the first works that dealt with the polyphonic music of the area of Myzeqe.
and anti-clericalism
during his travels in Malta and Italy. He believed that reforms should be based on an industrial economic policy, the center of which would be an Albanian bourgeoisie
, whose commerce with Europe would be encouraged and it would pay lower taxes, while that social class would heavily support the industrial development of Albania.
He often accused the Catholic and Muslim clergy of inciting and encouraging religious segregation and differences. Jubani criticized the Italian missionaries for teaching only in Italian, while in previous years Albanian had been used too. The Jesuit missionaries of Shkodër eventually denounced Jubani to the Holy See
as an anti-clerical propagandist.
References
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
folklorist, philosopher and activist of the Albanian National Awakening. He is known for the publication of a Collection of Albanian Folk Songs and Rhapsodies in the Gheg Albanian
Gheg Albanian
Gheg is one of the two major varieties of Albanian. The other one is Tosk, on which standard Albanian is based. The dividing line between these two varieties is the Shkumbin River, which winds its way through central Albania....
dialect. Jubani advocated the creation of a unique alphabet of the Albanian language. For his political activities, which often were anti-clericalist
Anti-clericalism
Anti-clericalism is a historical movement that opposes religious institutional power and influence, real or alleged, in all aspects of public and political life, and the involvement of religion in the everyday life of the citizen...
Jubani was denounced to the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
by the Jesuit missionaries of Shkodër.
Life
Zef Jubani was born in 1818 in ShkodërShkodër
Shkodër , is a city located on Lake of Shkoder in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkodër, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Shkodër's estimated population is 90,000; if the...
, modern Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
to a notable merchant family from the nearby village of Juban. He initially studied in Shkodër and later continued his studies in Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, where his uncle lived. After returning to Shkodër he worked since 1848 as a secretary to the French consul of the city and also became the assistant of the vice consul of the United Kingdom in 1853. Jubani spent a significant part of his life in Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
, Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
and modern Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
.
Works
Since 1850 Jubani documented the folklore of his home region. In 1858 part of his work was published in the Histoire et description de la Haute Albanie ou Guegarie written by Hyacinthe Hecguard, then French consul of Shkodër. The original texts of the folk songs documented by Jubani included in Hecguard's work were lost on January 13, 1866 during a flood in Shkodër. His best known work is the Collection of Albanian Folk Songs and Rhapsodies published in 1871 in TriesteTrieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
. The Collection of Albanian Folk Songs and Rhapsodies is the first collection of folk songs in the Gheg Albanian
Gheg Albanian
Gheg is one of the two major varieties of Albanian. The other one is Tosk, on which standard Albanian is based. The dividing line between these two varieties is the Shkumbin River, which winds its way through central Albania....
dialect and the first folklore work published by an Albanian who lived in Albania. The book was published along with two political and philosophical studies of Jubani the Current situation of the population of northern Albania and Thoughts on the moral situation and intellectual culture of the Albanian people , which were introductory to his main work.
In the two introductory studies Jubani advocated for the formation of a literary commission for the purification of the Albanian language and the promotion of Albanian literature. Jubani also supported the creation of a unique alphabet for the Albanian language, arguing that since Albanian was a unique language, it should have a separate alphabet, and wrote a grammar textbook of the Albanian language. In Trieste he became one of the editors of a local newspaper and in 1873 he edited and translated from Ottoman Turkish
Ottoman Turkish language
The Ottoman Turkish language or Ottoman language is the variety of the Turkish language that was used for administrative and literary purposes in the Ottoman Empire. It borrows extensively from Arabic and Persian, and was written in a variant of the Perso-Arabic script...
to Italian Law, appendix and procedure of the Ottoman commerce , a book about commerce practices in the Ottoman Empire. In 1878 he published in Venice a pamphlet to encourage the use of steamships in routes between Albania and Italy. Jubani's study On the Albanian poetry and music was among the first works that dealt with the polyphonic music of the area of Myzeqe.
Political philosophy
Jubani's political philosophy was influenced largely by classical liberalismClassical liberalism
Classical liberalism is the philosophy committed to the ideal of limited government, constitutionalism, rule of law, due process, and liberty of individuals including freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and free markets....
and anti-clericalism
Anti-clericalism
Anti-clericalism is a historical movement that opposes religious institutional power and influence, real or alleged, in all aspects of public and political life, and the involvement of religion in the everyday life of the citizen...
during his travels in Malta and Italy. He believed that reforms should be based on an industrial economic policy, the center of which would be an Albanian bourgeoisie
Bourgeoisie
In sociology and political science, bourgeoisie describes a range of groups across history. In the Western world, between the late 18th century and the present day, the bourgeoisie is a social class "characterized by their ownership of capital and their related culture." A member of the...
, whose commerce with Europe would be encouraged and it would pay lower taxes, while that social class would heavily support the industrial development of Albania.
He often accused the Catholic and Muslim clergy of inciting and encouraging religious segregation and differences. Jubani criticized the Italian missionaries for teaching only in Italian, while in previous years Albanian had been used too. The Jesuit missionaries of Shkodër eventually denounced Jubani to the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
as an anti-clerical propagandist.
Sources
NotesReferences