The Bilal Xhaferri Cultural Association (Shoqata Kulturore “Bilal Xhaferri”), otherwise called Cultural Community of Chameria,[1] is a non-governmental organization centered in Tirana, Albania.[2] This association was founded by a group of journalists, writers, artists and intellectuals, friends of dissident novelist and publicist Bilal Xhaferri.[3] Its key objective was to present to the Albanian people Bilal’s figure, forgotten by the Communist dictatorship and to compare Albanian cultural values, especially those of Chameria,[4] with the most developed civilizations’ values.
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The Cultural Association “Bilal Xhaferri” was founded in 1993 and since 1994 it operates as a cultural institution.[2] It aimed to better accomplish the mission of Bilal Xhaferri Publishing House which was created in 1991 by the Albanian writer Shefki Hysa.[5] This publishing house was one of the first publishing entities of the post-communist period, whose aim was the publication of the most important values of world literature and Albanian dissident literature. It also gave to the young talented writers the necessary spaces to develop their literary skills.
The large number of publications of this Publishing House and its large activity in those years stimulated the foundation of an institution with more values than a simple publishing house. So, the foundation of a multifunctional cultural organism, of a non-profit organization was a necessity. It would include the field of publication and would have the possibility to collaborate with governmental and non-governmental institutions, inside and outside the country. A group of Chams,[6] together with their friends from different countries, discussed for a long time with intellectuals of the Cultural Community of Chameria,[7] collaborating with many writers too, Albanian artists and Bilal Xhaferri’s friends.
The result of this intellectual collaboration was the foundation of the Cultural Association “Bilal Xhaferri”,[8] as a specialized institution that could expand cultural activity beyond Albania’s, Kosovo’s and Macedonia’s borders, up to the United States of America, to coordinate the work with Cham League, Kosovo’s League, Democratic League of Montenegro and Albanians’ League in Macedonia. The association could provide a great support for the Cham issue, to resolve this problem diplomatically.
These friends had to be even diplomats like other writers and artists who are ambassadors of their country’s culture... They became diplomatic missionaries of Albanian culture... Some friends, who joined this association, heartily helped the Cham ideal. Some of them were known intellectuals such as: Pjeter Arbnori,[9] Dritëro Agolli [10]], Ismail Kadare etc., and many others, not only Chams... The Cultural Association "Bilal Xhaferri" in a short time extended its activity not only in the Cham community areas, but also in the most important cities of Albania, wherever Bilal Xhaferri’s friends were... This association has excellent relations with Albanian state structures, with the political spectrum, with the governing majority and the opposition parties, with young and old politicians such as: Pjeter Arbnori,[9] Ibrahim Rugova, Sali Berisha and Fatos Nano, Skënder Gjinushi, Edi Rama, Ilir Meta, Tahir Muhedini, Hashim Thaçi, Bamir Topi, Besnik Mustafaj [11] etc., etc...
This association has set up good relations not only with embassies, such as: American, British, Italian, German and Turkish embassy, but also with important personalities of world culture such as: Hillary Clinton [11] and Doris Pack, Miranda Vickers and James Pettifer, Marco Pannella and Callenback, Dr.Haim Reitan,[12] etc.. The young poets, journalists, intellectuals and politicians such as Dylbere Dika, Kostaq Myrtaj, Xhulia Xhekaj and many others have become the voice of this association, which aims to keep the Cham ideal alive.[13]
“Eagle’s wing” [14] magazine (Krahu i shqiponjës), which was founded by Bilal Xhaferri in the United States of America,[15] is the organ that continues to direct this association’s activities.... Through its writings people can learn more about Bilal Xhaferri’s figure and the big contribution he gave for Albanian culture and literature. And on May 6, 1995 Bilal Xhaferri’s[16] remains were taken back to his homeland, Albania.[17] The Albanian state and writer Shefki Hysa,[18] the chairman of this association, played an important role in this initiative[19]...