Sotir Kolea
Encyclopedia
Sotir Kolea was an Albanian
folklorist, diplomat and activist of the Albanian National Awakening. Along with Thoma Kacorri he has been labeled as the Last of the Rilindas.
, southern Albania
(then part of the Ottoman Empire
) on September 4, 1872. His father Kristo was a lawyer that worked as a legal counselor for the French company La Regie Des Tabacs
, which held the monopoly of tobacco in the Ottoman Empire
. At the age of nine he moved to Bitola
, where his uncle Ilia, a tobacco merchant of the company, lived. After graduating from the local Greek-language gymnasium, he was hired by La Regie Des Tabacs and worked in the Ohrid
branch of the company. In 1896 he worked as a teacher of Albanian language in the Albanian community of Kavala
. Between 1899 and 1902 he was transferred to the Drama
and Kavala branches of the company.
Later Kolea migrated to Egypt, where he was elected secretary of the local Bashkimi organization. In 1913 he co-organized with Faik Konica
the Albanian Congress of Trieste
. After settling in Switzerland he published in Lausanne
the newspaper L'Albanie from 1915 to 1919. In 1919-20 he was a member of the Albanian delegation to the Paris Peace Conference
and the Franco-Albanian Administrative Council. In 1920 he migrated to Madagascar and later to France, where he lived in Marseille
until 1927. From 1928 to 1937 he served as the director of the National Library of Albania
, the volumes of which tripled during his term. Since 1937 he had lived in Elbasan, where he died in 1945. His obituary was written by his close friend, the linguist Mahir Domi
. In 1944 his work on Albanian proverbs Një tufë proverba was published in Tiranë. In 2002 Alfred Moisiu
honoured him with the gold medal of the Naim Frashëri
Order.
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
folklorist, diplomat and activist of the Albanian National Awakening. Along with Thoma Kacorri he has been labeled as the Last of the Rilindas.
Life
Sotir Kolea was born in the Goricë district of BeratBerat
Berat is a town located in south-central Albania. As of 2009, the town has an estimated population of around 71,000 people. It is the capital of both the District of Berat and the larger County of Berat...
, southern Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
(then part of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
) on September 4, 1872. His father Kristo was a lawyer that worked as a legal counselor for the French company La Regie Des Tabacs
Regie Company
The Regie Company was a parastatal company formed in the later Ottoman Empire by the Ottoman Public Debt Administration, with backing from a consortium of European banks. The company had a monopoly over tobacco production. Revenue from the Regie Company was supposed to help overcome the Ottoman...
, which held the monopoly of tobacco in the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. At the age of nine he moved to Bitola
Bitola
Bitola is a city in the southwestern part of the Republic of Macedonia. The city is an administrative, cultural, industrial, commercial, and educational centre. It is located in the southern part of the Pelagonia valley, surrounded by the Baba and Nidže mountains, 14 km north of the...
, where his uncle Ilia, a tobacco merchant of the company, lived. After graduating from the local Greek-language gymnasium, he was hired by La Regie Des Tabacs and worked in the Ohrid
Ohrid
Ohrid is a city on the eastern shore of Lake Ohrid in the Republic of Macedonia. It has about 42,000 inhabitants, making it the seventh largest city in the country. The city is the seat of Ohrid Municipality. Ohrid is notable for having once had 365 churches, one for each day of the year and has...
branch of the company. In 1896 he worked as a teacher of Albanian language in the Albanian community of Kavala
Kavala
Kavala , is the second largest city in northern Greece, the principal seaport of eastern Macedonia and the capital of Kavala peripheral unit. It is situated on the Bay of Kavala, across from the island of Thasos...
. Between 1899 and 1902 he was transferred to the Drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
and Kavala branches of the company.
Later Kolea migrated to Egypt, where he was elected secretary of the local Bashkimi organization. In 1913 he co-organized with Faik Konica
Faik Konica
Faik Konica , born in Konitsa, was one of the greatest figures of Albanian culture in the early decades of the twentieth century. Prewar Albanian minister to Washington, his literary review, Albania, became the focal publication of Albanian writers living abroad...
the Albanian Congress of Trieste
Albanian Congress of Trieste
The Albanian Congress of Trieste was a congress of Albanians held in Trieste, Austria-Hungary in period February 27 — March 6, 1913, and organized by Faik Konica and Sotir Kolea....
. After settling in Switzerland he published in Lausanne
Lausanne
Lausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
the newspaper L'Albanie from 1915 to 1919. In 1919-20 he was a member of the Albanian delegation to the Paris Peace Conference
Paris Peace Conference, 1919
The Paris Peace Conference was the meeting of the Allied victors following the end of World War I to set the peace terms for the defeated Central Powers following the armistices of 1918. It took place in Paris in 1919 and involved diplomats from more than 32 countries and nationalities...
and the Franco-Albanian Administrative Council. In 1920 he migrated to Madagascar and later to France, where he lived in Marseille
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
until 1927. From 1928 to 1937 he served as the director of the National Library of Albania
National Library of Albania
The National Library of Albania is an Albanian national library headquartered in the capital, Tirana. It was founded in 1920 and inaugurated on December 10, 1922.- References :...
, the volumes of which tripled during his term. Since 1937 he had lived in Elbasan, where he died in 1945. His obituary was written by his close friend, the linguist Mahir Domi
Mahir Domi
Mahir Domi was an Albanian linguist. He was a member of the commission responsible for the orthography of the Standard Albanian language....
. In 1944 his work on Albanian proverbs Një tufë proverba was published in Tiranë. In 2002 Alfred Moisiu
Alfred Moisiu
was the fourth President of the Republic of Albania from July 24, 2002 to July 24, 2007. He is the son of Albanian Army general Spiro Moisiu....
honoured him with the gold medal of the Naim Frashëri
Naim Frashëri
Naim Frashëri was an Albanian poet and writer. He was one of the most prominent figures of the Albanian National Awakening of the 19th century, together with his two brothers Sami and Abdyl...
Order.