10 Most Popular People in Albania
Albania is a beautiful country located
in southeastern Europe. It has a rich history, culture, and traditions. Over
the years, Albania has produced many famous and influential individuals who
have contributed to various fields. Here are the 10 most popular people in
Albania:
1. Mother Teresa - A
Catholic nun and missionary who dedicated her life to helping the poor and
sick. She was born in Skopje, which is now part of North Macedonia, but her
Albanian heritage has made her a national hero in Albania.
2. Ismail Kadare - A
renowned Albanian novelist, poet, and essayist. He has won numerous
international literary awards and is considered one of the greatest writers of
the 20th century.
3. Sali Berisha - A
former president and prime minister of Albania. He played a critical role in
the country's transition from communism to democracy in the early 1990s.
4. Elvana Gjata - A
popular Albanian singer and songwriter. She has released several hit albums and
singles and has won numerous awards for her music.
5. Rita Ora - A
British-Albanian singer and actress. She has released several successful albums
and singles and has acted in several movies and TV shows.
6. Enver Hoxha - A
former communist leader of Albania who ruled the country for over 40 years. He
is a controversial figure who is both admired and reviled by many Albanians.
7. Fatmir Sejdiu - A
former president of Kosovo. He was the first president of Kosovo to be elected
after the country declared independence from Serbia in 2008.
8. Nexhmije Hoxha - The
wife of Enver Hoxha and a prominent communist politician in her own right. She
played a critical role in the communist government of Albania and was one of
the most powerful women in the country during her time.
9. Edi Rama - The
current prime minister of Albania. He is a former artist and politician who has
been credited with modernizing the country and improving its international
standing.
10. Majlinda Kelmendi - A
professional judoka who won the gold medal in the women's 52 kg category at the
2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. She is the first Kosovar to win an Olympic
gold medal and is considered a national hero in Kosovo.
Mother Teresa - A Catholic nun and
missionary
Mother Teresa was a Catholic nun and
missionary who dedicated her life to serving the poor and sick. Born in Skopje,
Macedonia in 1910, she joined the Sisters of Loreto at the age of 18 and was
sent to India where she began her work with the destitute and dying. In 1950,
she founded the Missionaries of Charity, a congregation of women dedicated to
serving "the poorest of the poor."
Mother Teresa's work soon gained
international recognition and she became known as a champion of the poor and an
advocate for the sick and dying. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979
for her work, which included caring for lepers, the elderly, and the terminally
ill. Despite her fame, Mother Teresa remained humble and continued to live a
life of service until her death in 1997.
Today, Mother Teresa's legacy lives on
through the Missionaries of Charity, which has grown to include over 4,500
sisters serving in 133 countries around the world. Her life serves as an
inspiration to people of all faiths and backgrounds to dedicate themselves to
helping others in need.
Ismail Kadare - A renowned Albanian
novelist, poet, and essayist
Ismail Kadare is a highly acclaimed
Albanian novelist, poet, and essayist, regarded as one of the most significant
literary figures of the 20th century. Born in Gjirokastra, Albania in 1936,
Kadare spent many years as a writer and journalist under the repressive
communist regime of Enver Hoxha, during which time he was often censored and
faced persecution for his work. Despite this, he continued to write and publish
prolifically, with his works being translated into over 40 languages.
Kadare's writing often explores themes
of political oppression, identity, and the struggle for freedom, drawing on his
own experiences of living under a totalitarian regime. His novels are known for
their lyrical prose, complex characters, and vivid depictions of the historical
and cultural landscape of Albania. Kadare has received numerous awards for his
work, including the prestigious Man Booker International Prize in 2005, and he
is widely regarded as a master of modern Albanian literature.
Today, Kadare's writing continues to
inspire and captivate readers around the world, and his legacy as a writer and
intellectual remains an important part of Albanian cultural history.
Sali Berisha - Prime minister of
Albania.
Sali Berisha is a prominent Albanian
politician who served as the Prime Minister of Albania twice in his career.
Berisha was born on October 15, 1944, in the city of Viçidol, Albania. He
studied medicine at the University of Tirana and later became a professor of
cardiology.
Berisha became involved in politics
during the early 1990s, following the collapse of communism in Albania. He
co-founded the Democratic Party of Albania in 1991 and became the party's
leader. The following year, he was elected as the country's first non-communist
president since 1945.
Berisha served as President until 1997,
when a financial crisis and public unrest led to his resignation. He was
elected as Prime Minister in 2005 and served until 2013. During his time in
office, Berisha implemented a series of economic reforms and worked to improve
Albania's relations with other countries.
Despite his achievements, Berisha's
tenure as Prime Minister was also marked by controversy and criticism. Some
accused him of corruption and authoritarianism, and his government faced
protests and accusations of electoral fraud. Nevertheless, Berisha remains an
important figure in Albanian politics and a controversial one at that.
Elvana Gjata - A popular Albanian
singer and songwriter.
Elvana Gjata is a well-known Albanian
singer and songwriter. She was born on February 3rd, 1987 in Tirana, Albania.
Elvana started her career at a young age and gained popularity in the early
2000s. She is known for her unique voice, catchy tunes, and captivating
performances.
Elvana's music style is a blend of pop,
R&B, and electronic dance music. Her songs are often about love,
relationships, and personal experiences. She has released several albums and
singles throughout her career, including "Forever Is Over",
"Tavolina e Merzise", "Kuq e Zi je ti", "Me Fal",
and "Lejla".
Apart from her music career, Elvana is
also known for her fashion sense and philanthropic work. She has been involved
in various charitable activities, including supporting children with cancer and
donating to earthquake relief efforts in Albania.
Elvana Gjata has won several awards and
nominations for her music, including Best Female Artist and Best Song at the
Top Music Awards in Albania. Her music has also gained popularity outside of
Albania, with fans from all around the world.
Overall, Elvana Gjata is a talented
artist who has made a significant impact on the Albanian music scene. Her
unique style, powerful voice, and dedication to her craft have earned her a
loyal fanbase and cemented her place in the music industry.
Rita Ora - A British-Albanian singer
and actress.
Rita Ora is a multi-talented
British-Albanian singer and actress who has taken the music industry by storm.
Born in Kosovo in 1990, Ora and her family moved to London when she was just a
year old. From a you
ng age, she had a passion for music and
performing, and began singing in her school choir.
In 2009, Ora was discovered by the
legendary DJ Fresh, who invited her to feature on his single "Hot Right
Now". This led to her signing a record deal with Jay-Z's Roc Nation label
and the release of her debut album, "Ora", in 2012. The album was a
commercial success, with hits such as "R.I.P." and "How We Do
(Party)".
In addition to her music career, Ora
has also ventured into acting. She made her film debut in the 2013 movie
"Fast & Furious 6" and has since appeared in other films such as
"Fifty Shades of Grey" and "Pokémon Detective Pikachu". Her
talent, charisma, and unique style have made her a beloved figure in both the
music and entertainment industries.
Enver Hoxha - A former communist leader
of Albania
Enver Hoxha was a prominent communist
leader who served as the Prime Minister of Albania from 1944 to 1954, and then
as the First Secretary of the Albanian Party of Labour until his death in 1985.
Hoxha was born in 1908 in Albania and was educated in France. He became
involved in politics and joined the Communist Party of Albania in the 1940s.
Hoxha's leadership was marked by a
policy of isolationism and a strong stance against other communist nations. He
broke ties with the Soviet Union in 1961 and later with China in 1978. Hoxha's
regime was known for its strict control over the media, repression of political
opposition, and widespread use of forced labor. Despite this, his government
was able to achieve significant improvements in the areas of education,
healthcare, and women's rights.
After Hoxha's death in 1985, Albania
underwent a period of political and economic transition, eventually moving
towards a market-based democracy. The legacy of Enver Hoxha remains
controversial in Albania, with some viewing him as a hero who helped to
modernize the country, while others see him as a dictator who oppressed his
people.
Fatmir Sejdiu - A former president of
Kosovo
Fatmir Sejdiu was the second President
of Kosovo, serving from February 2006 to September 2010. He was born on October
23, 1951, in the village of Letnicë in the Gjilan municipality of Kosovo.
Sejdiu was a member of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), which was led by
the first President of Kosovo, Ibrahim Rugova.
Sejdiu became involved in politics
during the 1990s, when Kosovo was still a province of Serbia. He was a member
of Rugova's negotiating team during the Rambouillet talks in 1999, which aimed
to resolve the conflict between Serbia and Kosovo. After the talks failed, NATO
launched a bombing campaign against Serbia, which ultimately led to the
withdrawal of Serbian forces from Kosovo and the establishment of the United
Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).
Sejdiu was elected President of Kosovo
in 2006, succeeding Rugova, who had died the previous year. During his
presidency, Sejdiu worked to strengthen Kosovo's institutions and promote its
integration into the international community. However, his presidency was
marred by a number of controversies, including allegations of corruption and
nepotism.
In September 2010, Sejdiu resigned as
President of Kosovo following a ruling by the country's Constitutional Court
that he had violated the constitution by simultaneously holding the position of
president and leader of the LDK. He was succeeded by Behgjet Pacolli, who
served as Acting President until the election of Atifete Jahjaga in April 2011.
Nexhmije Hoxha - The wife of Enver
Hoxha
Nexhmije Hoxha was the wife of Enver
Hoxha, the former communist leader of Albania. Nexhmije was born on February 7,
1921, in Tirana, Albania. She was an active member of the communist party and
played a prominent role in Albanian politics. She met Enver Hoxha while he was
studying in France and they married in 1945.
During her husband's reign, Nexhmije
held various high-ranking positions in the government and was widely considered
to be one of the most powerful women in Albania. She was the leader of the
Albanian Women's Organisation and was responsible for promoting gender equality
in the country. However, she was also known for her authoritarianism and her
role in suppressing political dissent.
After the fall of communism in Albania
in the early 1990s, Nexhmije and her husband were both subject to public
criticism and condemnation. Enver Hoxha passed away in 1985, and Nexhmije lived
in relative obscurity until her death in 2020. Despite her controversial
legacy, she remains an important figure in Albanian history and politics.
Edi Rama - The current prime minister
of Albania.
Edi Rama is a prominent politician and
the current Prime Minister of Albania. Born in Tirana in 1964, Rama is an
accomplished artist and former basketball player who later turned to politics.
He has been the leader of the Socialist Party of Albania since 2005 and has
served as Prime Minister since 2013.
Rama is widely regarded as a
progressive leader who has brought significant changes to Albania's political
landscape. During his tenure, he has implemented a number of reforms, including
overhauling the country's judicial system and cracking down on corruption. He
has also overseen significant improvements in Albania's economy, with the
country experiencing steady growth in recent years.
Despite facing criticism from some
quarters, Rama remains a popular figure in Albanian politics. His government
has been praised for its efforts to modernize the country and improve the lives
of its citizens. Rama has also played an active role in regional politics,
working to strengthen Albania's relationships with neighboring countries and
promote peace and stability in the Balkans.
Majlinda Kelmendi - A professional
judoka
Majlinda Kelmendi is a professional
judoka from Kosovo who has made a significant impact in the sport. She was born
in Gjakova, Kosovo on May 9, 1991. She began practicing judo at the age of
eight and quickly became successful, winning her first national championship at
the age of 11.
Kelmendi has achieved numerous
accomplishments throughout her career. She became the first athlete from Kosovo
to win an Olympic medal, earning gold in the women's 52 kg division at the 2016
Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. She has also won gold medals at the European
Judo Championships, the World Judo Championships, and the Mediterranean Games.
Beyond her accomplishments on the mat,
Kelmendi has become a symbol of hope and inspiration for the people of Kosovo.
She has overcome challenges and adversity to become one of the most successful
athletes in her country's history. She has also used her platform to advocate
for gender equality and the importance of sports in promoting a healthy
lifestyle.