Shqipful Magazine

3 Albanian Women Who Define Strength

March 8th marks International Women’s Day around the world. A holiday dedicated to raising awareness about gender related issues such as reproductive rights, violence against women and gender equal...

Safiye Sultan: The Albanian Queen of the Ottoman Empire

At the height of the Ottoman Empire's power and glory, a unique event happened in their history, which arguably had a longing effect on world politics and Eastern culture. Women rose to power i...

January 24: The Fall of Giants — Remembering Ali Pasha Tepelena

January 24 marks a solemn date in Albanian history—the passing of three towering figures: Ismail Qemali, Isa Boletini, and Ali Pasha Tepelena. Each left behind a legacy etched deeply into the Alban...

Grameno’s Odyssey: The Road to Albanian Independence

Meet Mihal Grameno, a true Albanian patriot and Renaissance figure born on January 13, 1871. A man of many hats – nationalist, politician, writer, freedom fighter, and journalist – Grameno dedicate...

Fan Noli and Besa-Besë: A January 6 Odyssey

In the grand tapestry of history, some dates resonate louder than others, and January 6th is undoubtedly one of those symphonic days for Albania. Why? Because it's not just the day when the visiona...

Unveiling the story of the First Albanian Book

Embarking on a fascinating journey through the annals of Albanian history, we unveil story of the first Albanian book, "Meshari" by Gjon Buzuku (1555). Picture this: in the shadows of time, this l...

Fighting Against All Odds

Çerçiz Topulli was an Albanian guerrilla war leader that fought all 3 of our enemies: Turks, Greeks, and Serbs. He was born in 1880 in Gjirokastra in a patriotic family of 14 kids. Him and his old...

League of Lezhe

One of the most important dates in the history of the Albanian people, without a doubt, is the Covenant of Lezha, also known as the "Albanian League of Lezha", the Assembly of Lezha, or the League ...

What did Albanians give to the Ottoman Empire?

For 5 centuries Albanians were under Ottoman rule. In these 5 centuries, Albanians were the biggest opponents and contributors to this empire.

A Look at a Tribal Council Meeting in 1916

Edith Durham has some priceless experiences from the year 1916 that are more significant than all the scholarly discussions that can explain what is meant by the statement that the whole life of th...

The Albanian remained Albanian

Although the Albanian lands remained under Turkish rule for almost 500 years and many foods, clothes and traditions were adopted by the Albanian population, there were some things that never change...

The Krasniqi Tribe

The main settlements of the Krasniqi tribe are Bajram Curri (Kolgecaj), Selimaj (Gegëhysen), Bujani, Llugaj, Margegaj, and Dragobia.

The Legacy of Hoti: Blood, Honor, and the Mountains

Across the northern Albanian lands, families bearing surnames like Cunmullaj, Camaj, Dedvukaj, Dushaj, Gjelaj, Gjonaj, Gojçaj, Junçaj, Lajçaj, Lucgjonaj, and Nicaj often trace their roots back to t...

The Gruda Tribe

If you are from the north of the Albanian lands and have one of the surnames below, your family probably originates from the tribe of Gruda. Read more to find out why Gruda tribe has played a very ...

The most important Albanian Tribe

Perhaps the most important Albanian tribe, its name became known in the European world only in the 17th century, because of how steep the mountains in which this tribe lived were. Continue reading ...

Himara: Always Albanian, Through History and Time

In the past two decades, one narrative has continued to resurface with increasing intensity: the claim that Himara is Greek land and that its population is entirely Greek. It is a claim that moves ...

Did you know about this crazy Albanian tradition?

Do you know that once in Albania, but not only, the ability to steal was highly valued? It was not seen as a dishonest job. Only the theft of "small stuff" was despised. In the continuation of thi...

The secret of the Albanian survival

Many foreigners ask: "How is it possible that Albania was under the Ottoman Empire for 5 centuries and managed to survive again, even though it was fragmented?!"

An incredible prophecy of the 15th century

Until 1912, there was an extraordinary legend in the Albanian lands that Eqrem Bey Vlora, nephew of the founding father of the Albanian state, brought back in one of his books. More precisely, a l...

Elements of Illyrian heritage to today's Albanians

  Illyrians are considered to be one of the most ancient people of Europe, who left behind an incredible inheritance, both material and cultural. They were not Greeks, nor Romans, but rather took p...

Gjergj Arianiti: Life and Legacy

  The great Albanian nobleman Gjergj Arianiti, father of Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg’s wife Donika, was a hero and powerful warrior against the Ottomans in his own right. He was the eldest of three...

Brave Albanian Women

The story of Albania is full of brave Sons of Eagles, but there are also many Daughters who have sacrificed everything for their country and people. In particular, there are some amazing tales fro...

Sabiha Kasimati - the brilliant Albanian scientist

The first thing that greets you upon entering Albania’s National Museum of Natural Science in Tiranë is not a display on animals, but one centered on the life of the inspirational Albanian woman wh...

The ultimate GOAT

  This is not a fairytale, nor a Games of Thrones script. This is the real history of Gergj Kastriot Skanderbeg, the most epic hero who ever lived, the ultimate GOAT.

Isa Boletini: Kosova’s Legendary Hero

A highly compressed article written over the course of 9 months about Isa Boletini, a chieftain from Kosova (Albania) by the passionate Mike Joseph, an American that currently lives and works in Al...

Albanians: From leaders to deportees!

This story of how the Albanians in the XIX century went from rulers of Greek lands to deportees will teach you many lessons about politics, diplomacy, the way Ottoman Empire operated and how the si...

50 Rare Facts on Albania's Founding Father

It is said that Ismail Qemali was born on October 16, but in history textbooks, his birthday is known as January 24, precisely because his birthday coincided with that of Enver Hoxha and the latter...

Teuta, The Most Powerful Queen of Antiquity

Illyrian Queen Teuta is one of the most extraordinary figures of Illyrian antiquity and of our Albanian heritage. With her intelligence, courage, and abilities to govern, she managed to strengthen...

Some interesting facts about the Summer Day in Albania

March 14 (or in Shqip “14 Mar”) is Dita e Verës -Day of Summer- a traditional Albanian celebration dating back to the Illyrians. It is a day of feasting with family, welcoming the lengthening days,...

Adem Jashari, the legendary

If there is in Albanian history a hero whose legacy can be compared with Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg, that person without a doubt is Adem Jashari. The legendary commander of Kosovo Liberty Army has ...

The origin of Albanian months' names

In Albanian, there are two versions of month names, translated from Latin, or an archaic Albanian version. In modern Albanian, some months kept the Albanian name, while others took the Latin transl...

The Fearless Mountain Bride Who Defied Convention

In every corner of the world, the image of a bride conjures notions of fragility, beauty, and flourishing femininity. Yet, in the rugged Albanian mountains, the term takes on a different meaning—on...

Ismail Kadare: Articulating Albanian Identity

Ismail Kadare, winner of a series of prestigious international awards celebrates his 85th birthday today. His literary creativity began in 1957, when he was just a high school student, and then did...

The “Eagle of Epirus”

If you're a history fan with a love for antiquity, then you probably have heard of King Pyrrhus. Nicknamed "The Eagle", he is remembered as one of the most epic and legendary kings and war general...

Marigo Posio, the mother of the flag

The official Albanian version recognizes Marigo Posion as the embroiderer of the flag raised on the day of the declaration of Independence. For this, she was called the "mother of the flag". But Ma...

Skanderbeg's Visit To Rome

A very important event that Europe "forgets" to mention and that we want to bring to your attention, happened 555 years ago. If you dig into various online articles it is said that Skanderbeg went...

The Lion we know little of

In the middle of Janina's lake stands still an amazing castle of which you may know little. Inside it are buried close to each-other a couple: Emine and the headless body of Ali Pashë Tepelena.  R...

The Story of the Çam Dance

This story will appear as one of those Arab fairytales where the main character saves his own life by just doing what he loves the most: dancing. Even though this may appear as a fairytale is indee...

A celebration only Albanians have

Did you know that only Albanians celebrate the 14th of March or the so called Summer Day? This is a pagan celebration that is still celebrated throughout Albania. It has its  roots in Snake and Sun...

15 Facts about Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu

If you visit Tirana you will find that the main square where a beautiful proud man-on-the-horse-statue stands is called “Sheshi Skënderbej” after Gjergj Kastriot Skënderbeu or differently known as ...