nr. 63 / 3 gusht 2004
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Continuity
of gift, continuity of violence As I was engaged in a study
about folk bands of weddings in the areas of Undershkodra,
I came to know the Niko’s band, or better, the
former Niko’s band, for it is not existing today as
such, because they broke up. They were the most unique, famous, virtuous
band, made up of gifted professionally prepared boys and girls. Niko had its spirit. Kolec Ejll Luka was called Niko and
is still remembered with this name. He was a great folk player and singer, a
vigorous, joyful and sincere young man, with a deep human and democratic
spirit. There were no weddings, parties or activities where this band
and Niko were not invited. Investigating around about this “king of the folk band” I
came to know a particular and very interesting history, rich and yet painful. The focus of this article is not the value and the musical
activity of this band, but two parallel lines of Niko’s
history with continuity in artistic values and gifts as well as in opposition
to regimes and violence by them used. His artistic talent joined a freedom spirit and ideal, a
human, social, political and democratic freedom. Since 1990, and then since 1991, Kolec
Ejll Luka, as a member of the DP, distinguished
activist, prepared militant of this party, fused together his artistic gifts
as a singer with the eminent political activity and ideals. It is hardly possible to find in a family two parallel
history lines with continuity, like in the Niko’s
family. His grandfather, Shtjefën, was a
folk singer in parties and weddings of the area. Engjull, his father, was a folk
player and singer, known artist of the humor. Kolec, (our Niko),
brought even higher this tradition, this gift, this artistic spirit, in a
professional way. Vjollca, his sister, is the
virtuous folk singer, of national and international size, about whom we’ll
write later on. It might be no particularity till now, but going on with the
second line, than everyone might be astonished. A continuity of generations
in gifts, as well as a continuity of generations in persecution. Shtjefën (his grandfather), because
of refusing communism and collectivization, because of deep Catholic
sentiments, noted activity with the council of the elders of the church,
faced violence and was persecuted in various ways, until he was imprisoned
for political motives. Engull, (his father), was loved by
the community, but disliked by the communist power because of his fine humor
with a political background. He didn’t sing even a verse to the Party and the
leadership. He was in prison because he sang Yugoslavian songs. He was kept
away from all activities, under continuous surveillance, and condemned with
the hardest works. His folder as agitator and propagator was opened. Niko (Kolec
Ejll Luka), was participant in the movement to pull
down the bust of Stalin in Shkodra, member of the
Democratic Party since 1991, founder of the branch of this party for the area
of Undershkodra, volunteer in spreading the
Democratic Party’s newspaper, participant in all the meetings of the
Democratic Party as a speaker and singer, a vigorous militant for
strengthening the branches of this Party in the entire area. He was a
permanent member of the electoral commissions, where the DP was an absolute
and constant winner. The social-communists who came on power with guns, through a
communist revolution couldn’t forgive this. The power was to be kept the way
it was taken. The particular rivals were to be eliminated in various ways,
with various means, in various times. Niko was in
the list of the “dangerous”, so revenge came on him. There was a difficult
time for Niko. He was in disagreement with some positions and acts of the
Democratic Party, he criticized the weaknesses he noticed, wanted account and
giving some opinion and advice for new democratic elections. This was a
clear, constructive and sincere position, but particular elements or single
structures of the DP didn’t like it. There was so a certain coldness ending
in a “rebellion” against the Party. This was harshly used by unknown people
and structures of the power. Niko - they thought -
wasn’t anymore supported by his party, so revenge was easier. The first threats were sent to his mother, then to his wife,
and to Niko at the end. They prepared incidents,
used physical violence, arrested his temporarily, spoke about his house,
explosive and his little daughter. They asked him to leave, to go as far as
possible, for violence would follow him wherever he would go. One day, as I was staying with my friends of the band, Arben, Genc, and Adrian, they
told me: During the last times of our band, Niko
was totally changed. He became silent, doubtful, frightened and thoughtful.
Humor and song wasn’t in his eyes and mouth anymore. We continuously kept on
asking him what had happened, but he was silent. When his life became unbearable, when he felt at a deadline,
he told us everything: We met for the last time on May 1998. With tears in
his eyes, he said: “I’m menaced, my family’s life is a hell, and I’ve got to
go, as soon as possible, as far as possible.” He embraced us and left, and we
didn’t see him anymore. He had left. For a few months none knew where he had
gone. It was the only way for him. His friends saw each other and approved this moving their
heads. Finally I asked them: Is it dangerous for him if he comes back? After
a frightening silence, Arben said: This time gave
us many similar cases when revenge continues, or starts again. I’m quite sure
it starts again for Niko. I have many motives to
think he might suffer violence again, otherwise there’s no explanation for
the continuous violence used on this family, while as soon as Niko left, it started toward Vjollca,
his sister, the famous singer of Albania and Diaspora, until she too was
forced to leave. So… - and he stopped. I knew Vjollca, but not her story.
This too is a particular story, but we’ll write it later on. I left Niko’s friends thinking with
myself: A continuity of gifts and continuity of violence. Drita Berisha Blood-feud,
the plague that’s destroying
Zef Nika Korça:
Crime has the face of the State The Socialist Government brought by the Albanian communists,
is showing the face of the criminal and avenging State in Korça.
Everyone in Korça tells about barbaric tortures and
different pressures of the Albanian social-communists toward the son and the
family Malollari. Fevri Selajdin Malollari is one of
the militants of the DP participating in all the electoral campaigns. His
activity became more vigorous after the Socialists fired him. He suffered from the communist regime and today is suffering
from the sons of the communist and criminal dictatorship, which came on power
through bloodshed and guns. Fevri Malollari is one of the young people Vasel Gilaj |
