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"Korça Poetry Nights"/ The festival that transforms the city into an international poetry stage

2025-05-25 10:47:00, Qyteti im CNA

"Korça Poetry Nights"/ The festival that transforms the city

The city of Korça welcomed this year, once again, the 29th edition of the International Festival of Authors and Poets "Korça Poetry Nights". A festival that brings together Albanian and foreign poets, who showcase their talent in this field, giving different messages through the verses and emotions they convey.

This event is organized by the "Thimi Mitko" public library in collaboration with the Municipality of Korça, with the sole aim of keeping the tradition of this event alive in the southeast.

"Korça Poetry Nights"/ The festival that transforms the city

The director of the public library "Thimi Mitko", Jorida Tollkuçi, emphasized that for 30 years this festival has been a bridge between poets from Albania, Kosovo and different countries of the world, turning this activity into an international cultural tradition. This year, the festival brought poets from Israel for the first time, while authors from Greece, Italy and France were also invited.

During the two days of the festival, activities began on Saturday with the presentation and recitation of poems by participating poets, continuing on Sunday with the symbolic planting of a poetry tree, literary panels in the library, book promotions, and visits to the city's museums.

" The city of Korça on the penultimate weekend of May, as every year, welcomes poets to the International Festival of Authors and Poets "Korça Poetry Nights", a festival that marks its 29th edition. For 30 years in a row, this festival and the city of Korça have welcomed poets from Albania, Kosovo and various countries of the world, transforming it into an international festival. This year we have invited poets from Greece, Italy, France and for the first time poets coming from Israel. There are two days filled with activities that begin with Saturday, with the presentation of the poets and the recitation of greeting poems. Then to move on to Sunday, also filled with activities starting with the planting of the symbolic tree of poetry, with literary panels at the Thimi Mitko library, where well-known personalities from the world and Albanians, will promote their works. Then it will be moved to visits to the city's museums and recitations of "poems in museum environments ," said Tollkuçi.

French poet Pierre Ech-Ardour, for the first time in Albania, expressed his emotion and gratitude for the invitation to this festival. He shared his first impressions of the city of Korça, emphasizing the harmony between generations and the importance of the message of peace, which he himself aims to convey through his poetry.

" This is the first time I've come to Albania, and of course to Korça. I'm very happy to be here and grateful to have been invited to this activity. I visited the city a little on foot this afternoon and I was impressed that there were many young people but also many old people, like a mix. The most important thing for me is peace, and this is the message I want to give today ," said the French poet.

The guest of honor of this edition, the director of the National Center for Book and Reading, Alda Bardhyli, emphasized the importance of this festival for the history of Albanian literature and the role it has played in building a bridge of communication between different cultures, languages, and worlds.

She appreciated the fact that the "Korça Poetry Nights" have now become a tradition that enlivens the cultural life not only of the city of Korça, but of the entire country.

" It is very important that we are in Korça today to celebrate the beautiful festival of poetry, of verses that belong so much to this city of art, speech, and culture. I am very glad that the Korça Poetry Nights have become a tradition for the history of Albanian poetry in recent decades, as the festival has already passed 2 decades and has served as a bridge of communication between worlds, languages, and cultures. This festival has brought poets from all over the world, just like this year, so I see it as an event that gives life to culture ," said Bardhyli.

Poet Valbona Lola, who participated in this festival for the first time, considered it an honor and pleasure to participate in this special event. She will present her poem “I Wait for You Forever”, sharing the opinion that every person who carries love in their soul is a ray of light for others, a message that fits with this year’s theme, “Ray of Light”.

" It is an honor and pleasure to be part of this precious event for the city of Korça today. This event is held every year, it is the first time that I participate and I am very happy to participate with a special poem "I am waiting for you forever". Regarding the theme of this event which is "Ray of Light", I think that every person who holds love within himself is a ray of light for everyone else. So let's try to be a precious ray of light for all people ", said the poet.

With a warm atmosphere filled with the emotions of verses that transcend linguistic and cultural boundaries, the 29th edition of the "Korça Poetry Nights" returned once again, leaving behind unforgettable memories for poets and art lovers.

This festival continues to demonstrate the power of the written word to build bridges between people, turning Korça into an international poetry capital. With an eye on next year’s jubilee edition, “Korça Nights” remains an open window for artistic dialogue and a beautiful reflection on the love of words./ CNA