Culture in Prizren

The culture of Prizren consists of a rare blend of the various identities which make up Kosovo. Prizren is a community where different cultures and civilizations have come together, contributing to the city's cultural development over the centuries. Prizren has been known since antiquity as having a unique place in the Balkans, with its diverse cultural components stemming from its civilizations and religions. Thanks to its favorable geographic setting, its wide selection of monuments, and its archaeological heritage, the city of Prizren rightfully has been called the “museum city”, “museum under the open sky” or even the “Dubrovnik of the Balkans”, and has been described as one of Kosovo's most beautiful cities.

There is an old proverb saying “Whoever drinks water from the fountain will have find it difficult to leave Prizren”. Historians say “Every stone of Prizren is a history unto itself”, while one of the local songs goes: “Prizren is the city of song and love”.^[1]

Art

Prizren's buildings exhibit a variety of artistic features, including a number of buildings with high domes. Art is a constant a source of the city's traditions, supplemented by literature and song. This is evidenced by the strings of the qiftelia and mandolin.^[2]

Theater

Professional Theater of Prizren

Theater is the highest institution of culture of a city. Professional Theater of Prizren is a cultural institution with a big role here in the city of Prizren. It was founded in 2006 and since then the theater has performed a lot of performances. First show of this theater was performed on 2007 which was called “Im atë donte Adolfin” (My dad loved Adolf). The scenarist of this performance was written by Mehmet Kraja and the director was Agim Sopi. Besides Prizren, this show was performed abroad the city, in “Flaka e Janarit” (Flame of the January) - Gjilan, where the theater was awarded as the best show. Another performances were “Dosja K” (Dossier K) and “Darka Publike”(Public Dinner). “Moncerati” was another famous show, where about 35-40 actors performed in the festival of century of Albania in 2012.^[3] Thematic of “Moncerati” was about an uprising of some people that was slaved. This was the strongest reason why people loved this performance. Next was a performance called “Trenat” (Trains) which took place in “Festivali i Apollonise” in antic theater. This performance was performed also in Kukaj village, where the theater was awarded as the best show. This theater is not beneficial institute but its consumable ones and the government doesn’t help it enough. The benefits of this theater come from the spectators who see it.^[4]

Cultural-Artistic Society "Agimi"

Cultural-Artistic Society Agimi is the first organization of this character in Kosovo. CAS Agimi was founded in November 1944. This moment shows the beginnings of flowering of cultural-artistic activities, at amateur level for Prizren citizens. First activities were organized from a cultural team, which firstly was named “Ekipi kulturor i Komitetit Shqiptar”. The first performances of this team had a mosaic character, choral songs, recitals and folk songs. Since the foundations of CAS Agimi, a number of 5000 members more than 2000 times have performed different character activities in front of Albanian, Turkish, Italian, German and even Algerian audiences presenting precious part of Prizren’s Culture. Performances of CAS Agimi have not only national values, but also including a large amount of values of different nations. Undoubtedly that their performances are awarded by decorates and gratitude. By the increasing the number of members and sections, “Ekipi Kultulor i Komitetit Shqiptar” becomes Cultural-Artistic Society "Agimi". The indicator was prof. Zekerija Rexha. CAS Agimi consists of 200 regular members, who practice the activities in several sections. 1. Mix Choir 2. Folk Orchestra with Singer 3. Folklore Ensemble 4. Group of Literary and Recitative 5. Group of Painting and Artistic Photos 6. Group of Entertaining Music 7. Drama The first leader was chosen Anton Çeta. Thereby were set the foundations of the most ancient society among the Kosovo’s Albanians. Mix Choir of CAS Agimi is the first section by which the society started activities. It is the only Mix Amateur Choir in Kosovo that works for 7 decades. The Choir is a choral ensemble of enviable artistic level.^[5]

Theater on stilts Merula

Theater on stilts is a theatrical group consist of some people that stands on stilts and make performances like (walking, dancing, singing or other walk acts) with stilts. This group performs in open spaces, it means that there is not necessary for stage, sound system, lighting or different things that cost or take a lot of time to make an amazing spectacle, so simply by helping of some stilts and costumes this group show an incredible performance that arouse satisfaction, enjoyment on everyone who attend this group’s performances. Theater on stilts intentionally gives up exhausting technique and light effect for the possibility to perform everywhere and accessible for everyone. Stilts, costumes and objects of production are made by local artisans remain in possession of the theater company in Prizren and form the basis for further work alone. The stilts, as the smallest possible stage, combined by drama with virtuoso, accomplished by body use is all what a theater on stilts gives to its audience. Through the collective game, young people learn to empathize with their playing partner, experienced solidarity and group strength across ethnic, social or religious boundaries. The acting abilities of individuals and the group cause an immediate reaction of the audience and can be experienced as positive feedback for one's own risk. Theater on Stilts Merula is the first independent theater formed in the Balkans that functions as a theater on stilts in public space. Showing walk acts and processions at all kinds of events and festivals or full length straight theater in public spaces, giving a wide repertoire. This unique theater form was significantly developed by the independent theater company “Die Stelzer” *since the 1980s. The group was founded and run during a theater workshop, that was implemented by Xchange Perspectives e.V. and Awo Kosova during the International Dokufest Prizren 2013. First performance started with a writing workshop in which young people wrote their own texts in different languages. In a second step, the young actors learn to professionally move on stilts. At the same time, the sample version of the texts is written in cooperation with Kosovar authors. Finally, a 40-minute theater on stilts is developed and premiered at the DokuFest 2013 by 12 performers. It follows a small tour in Kosovo and oversees the establishment of the first stilt theater company in Kosovo.^[6]

Amateur Theater – Kısa Devre Tiyatro Topluluĝu

Amateur Theater Kısa Devre Tiyatro Topluluĝu (en: Association of short-time Theater) is the first amateur theater in Prizren in Turkish Language. It was founded in 2012 by ideas of some friends Zani Arapi, Husein Minci, Abdullah Papic headed by Deniz Dadale who actually is the director of theater's performances. Untiring work of actors, who are already volunteers of the theater have shown that Kisa Devre Tiyatro Toplulugu has his own importance in Prizren’s Culture. Theater has 35 regular members. All performances are made by actors of the theater. Most well-known performances of this theater are: Hababam Sınıfı (en: Vagabons’ Class), Aşk olsun (en:Well done), Şirinler (en: Smurfs). Performances were performed in Prizren in other cities of Kosova.^[7]

Cinema

DokuKino

DokuKino is the first cinema of Prizren, that was opened in 2013. As Kosovo for the last 14 years has only had one cinema, in Prishtine, it was a long awaited event when the City Cinema in Prizren finally could open its doors, now in three-dimensional platform. DokuKino is located in the Cultural Center “Complex Europe”, and consist of two movie theaters, a 120-seat indoor movie theater and a 400-seat outdoor cinema. All of these cannot be accomplished without the help of Prizren of Municipality, European Union, Norwegian Embassy and US Embassy here in Kosovo.

The program of DokuKino consist commercial films for adults and for kids, and documentaries. The City Cinema will be managed by DokuFest, the team behind the extremely popular International Documentary and Short Film Festival that is being hosted every summer in Prizren.^[8]

Kino Lumbardhi

The Kino Lumbardhi is Prizren’s only permanent cinema and can be found by the stone bridge. Once the first outdoors cinema in the Balkans, it is now only used for the DokuFest film festival, with the amphitheater also hosting concerts during The Lily of Prizren citizen long festival.^[9]

DokuFest

DokuFest, The International Documentary and Short Film Festival, is the largest film event in Kosovo. The festival started in 2002 and is held during the August in the picturesque and historical town of Prizren which attracts numerous international and regional artists. Films are designed to be screened throughout the days of the DokuFest in several cinemas, which are located in different locations in the center of Prizren. During the day, films are manifested in three indoor cinemas, in Kino Lumbardhi, Kino Europe, and in Cultural House, and during the night films are manifested in Kino Castle, Kino River, Kino Garden and Kino Europe Plato. Kino Lumbardhi is located by the stone bridge and is the oldest cinema in Balkans. Near to the Kino Lumbardhi is Kino Garden and Cultural House.^[10] Kino Europe is located behind Sinan Pasha Mosque where now is replaced by DokuKino. Above the Kino Europe is Kino Europe Plato. Kino Castle is the most fantastic cinema because is located at the entry of the Prizren Castle, a consider height from the city. Kino River is located below the Kino Castle, that stage in the Lumbardhi River which gives the water sensibility below the spectator’s feet. Except for its films, the festival is also well known for lively nights after screening. Various events happen within the scope of the festival: workshops, DokuPhoto exhibitions, festival camping, concerts which together turn the city into charming place to be. DokuShop, where you can buy tickets, catalogs, bags and t-shirts, now is installed in Shadervan. DokuFest since its establishment has proven that through consistent work and dedication, a volunteer based organization with almost no funding at the beginning, could become on of the leading cultural organizations in Kosovo and the region.^[11]

Music

Zambaku i Prizrenit- The Lily of Prizren

The citizen song festival “Zambaku i Prizrenit“ (The Lily of Prizren), was founded in 1986 from cultural institutions of Kosovo of that time, as the only cultural event that cultivates the urban music gene, such as ballads and serenades. Prizren celebrates its great musical legacy every June or July with the unique Zambaku i Prizrenit festival, held in the open air Lumbardhi cinema.^[12] The ideologist of this “Zambaku i Prizrenit” was the musical editor, Reshat Randobrava, assisted by the program editor of that time, Akil Koci. The responsibility to organize this festival was taken by CAS “Agimi”, which achieved to organize this festival until the war years are over, and then the municipality of Prizren takes over its management. Although the festival focuses on Albanian- language songs, some edition also have performances by other ethnic groups from Kosovo. At the festival, it’s not just old material that is performed – each year new artists add songs to Prizren’s repertoire.^[13]

Hasi Jehon - Echo of Hasi

This event takes place annually since 1976, Hasi Jehon (Echo of Hasi) held in early May in Gjonaj village, 15 km far from Prizren. About 20 ensembles from across the country gather here in the Hasi region to perform music and dance. Also there are exhibitions of traditional of Hasi clothes and crafts. “Hasi Jehon Festival” is viewed every year by up to ten thousand visitors from Kosovo and abroad. In this event many artistic group from Kosovo, Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro present their folk values and source traditional music.^[14]

NgomFest

It’s a musical and activation Festival that takes place in June in Prizren. For the first time this festival took place in 2011 and it has created a new moment in festivals world of Kosovo. NgomFest has promoted music from a lot of foreign band. NgomFest has shown a new quality of music festivals. Besides the success of first edition of Ngom Fest, in Prizren was formed also a construction of good relationship between people and support of the youth despite the fact where they come from, and what language they speak^[15] NgomFest has created a new moment in the festival world in Kosovo by promoting a new attractive and alternative spirit. This festival has born like an original idea of a young people active group. The first edition of this Festival (on June 2011) made this group to work more with this festival and make the development of this event. NgomFest was awarded with the Price “The Most Watched Event In 2011” in Prizren.^[16]

Festivals

40 Bunar Fest

One of the Kosovo’s craziest race is Prizren’s 40 Bunar River Tubing Festival. In this competition participants must get down through the Lumbardhi River from the Electrical Industry Museum to the Stone Bridge in the city center. They must get down as fast as it is possible. To get down the river participants use a tractor inner tire. This race is called Kosovo’s craziest race because of challenges and hard parts of the river: The low water Levels, protruding rocks and freezing water.^[17] 40 Bunar Fest is a traditional festival that takes place every year in the Lumbardhi river of Prizren city. This event is known as an extreme sport. This event is organized by “Shoqnia e Sportisteve t’Kfillt” (Society of Sober Sportsmen).^[18]

Comic Strip and Cartoon Festival

This festival is held annually in October in Prizren and is organized by the association of Strip artists “Xhennet Comics”. Comic-Strip and cartoon Festival gathers professional and amateur artist around the world. These artists exhibit their cartoon and Strip in the gallery of Gazi Mehmed Pasha’s Hamam. There are invited also a lot of world-wide masters of this “apprenticeship”. A lot of artists of Comic and Cartoon movies from 36 different countries take part in comic-strip and cartoon Festival. Among them there are artists from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Macedonia, Germany, Malaysia, Turkey and Romania. This festival includes a number of workshops where many people are involved in.^[19]

Religion

Prizren is inhabited by Albanians, Turkish, Gorani, Roman, Bosnian and Serbian. In the mosaic of religious ethnic of the citizens of Prizren dominates the Islamic faith, and there are present also Catholicism, Orthodoxy and other faiths. Prizren has a substantial number of mosques, Orthodox churches, Catholic churches, tombs and mausoleums, which together create grandeur and harmony of religious architecture in Prizren. In this city there are no national divisions, since communication among people is done in community languages. In the Shadervan square it’s located the Sinan Pasha Mosque, and if you walk a bit more you can see the Orthodox Church, St. George. Walking a bit uphill you reach the Catholic “Helping Lady” Cathedral. And when you look from the neighborhood called Topokli, the minaret and the domes of these three different religious temples can be seen, as they stand by each other carrying the long tradition and conveying the message of religious tolerance from centuries.^[20]

Prizren's Craft Works

Prizren is also known for the development of trade due to its association with the Silk Road. In this way the city has made the connection between some commercials sites: Pristine, Skopje, Tirana and Montenegro. City had a role of the connecting bridge and guesthouses. In the past, the development of the city was closely related to developments in terms of handicrafts, trade and the road network, as well. Transport of good was made with caravans. Throughout history, Prizren was even developed in a greater rate, and was one of the most important craft centers of the Balkans. In many workshops, different kinds of crafts were developed. Their number increase gradually, from century to century, so that in the second part of 19th, its number achieved the maximum possible, were 124 types of handicrafts, in over than 1384 workshops were developed. The most prevalent crafts were: craft of weapons, jewelry, saddle-workers, black smith, blade-workers, furrier etc. In the 19th century Prizren was the second most important economic and trade center within Albanian territories with approximately 1.500 workshops, at the end of this period. Despite this, the city of Prizren still has masters who form exemplary of different kinds that are used in everyday life or are sold as souvenirs that remind the visit in the ancient and historic Prizren.^[21]

Filigrani

It is an ancient craft that uses mainly silver and gold to produce very fine artwork. Its origin is believed to come since the Egyptians, however, it is supposed that in Kosovo is presented since the 15th century. Today there are about 10 family businesses of filigran in Prizren that are active in producing interesting works.^[22]

Clothes

In Prizren we can see a lot of weddings during the summer. On those weddings women are dressing with traditional clothes. Women are coated with white “dimi”, silky white “gjymlek”, silver waist belt, vest (doublet) or in “kaftan” they also put their jewelries. Prizren has a lot of different ethnic outfits. Here live in harmony: Albanians, Serbs, Turks, Gorani, Bosnians, Roma and many other groups. They live in peace and tolerance with beautiful dresses and models which demonstrate traditional similarity, but they different in clothing lines and the good symbol interaction. Some characteristic components of the traditional clothing in Prizren region are: shirts, “kracas”, “dimiet”, silk shirts, doublet, aprons, socks,” opingas”, scarf, jewelry (mostly in Opoja); shirts, two aprons, shirt, long hark, jacket, overcoat with many patterns, nausea and woolen socks with different colors (in the area of Gora).^[23]

Kitchen

Kitchen of Prizren is recognized among the best known in Kosovo. In every corner and street of Prizren, the tourists may be served with very tasty oriental foods. From the Prizren kitchens can distinguish “Casserole with lamb” “Rice and casserole”, “Elbasan casserole”, “Neither shall the sacrifice” and “Dyner”. From sweets we can specify, “Sarajlia”, “Baklava”, “Tespishte with nuts”, “Tullumba” and “Sutliashi”. Also the “Boze” is a very well known drink in Kosovo that came from Prizren city.^[24]

References