Top 5 Famous People of Albania

The history of Albania dates back to the distant 12th century. Before that, the country's territory was inhabited by Illyrians, Thracians, Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. Centuries later, the enchanting coast of Albania and the beauty of its majestic mountains continue to captivate. Every year, thousands of travelers come here for the amazing beach vacation and ancient cultural landmarks. However, Albania has something more – incredible people whom the whole world knows and admires.

Skanderbeg

Photo: Skanderbeg, Source: https://www.londonremembers.com

Skanderbeg, also known as George Castriot, is a legendary historical figure and a symbol of resistance against the Ottoman Empire. As the son of Prince Hamet ruler John Castriot, young George was forcibly sent to be raised by the Turkish sultan's enemy. The youth converted to Islam and took the name Iskander, in honor of the great conqueror Alexander the Great. The Albanian also earned the prestigious title of bey from Sultan Murad II, earning him the nickname Skanderbeg.

However, after the defeat of the Turks in Serbia near Niš in 1443, the future hero of Albania left Turkish service and joined fellow countrymen in the struggle against the forces of Islam. Castriot embraced Christianity, reclaimed his ancestral domains, and organized a league of Albanian princes, of which he was appointed commander-in-chief. During the period 1444-66, Skanderbeg repelled 13 Turkish invasions, and his successful resistance to Murad II's forces in 1450 made him a hero in the entire Western world.

Mother Teresa

Photo: Mother Teresa, Source: https://www.wordonfire.org

Mother Teresa was born into an Albanian family under the name Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in Üsküb, Ottoman Empire, now Skopje, North Macedonia. At the age of 12, young Teresa decided to dedicate her life to religion and, upon reaching adulthood, left her parental home and went to Ireland, where she joined the Sisters of Loreto – an Irish community of nuns with regular missions in India.

There, she continued her work. Over the years of her service, Mother Teresa became the founder of the Missionaries of Charity, a Roman Catholic congregation dedicated to serving the poor and destitute in India. For her efforts, Mother Teresa received numerous awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.

Ismail Kadare

Photo: Ismail Kadare, Source: https://en.wikipedia.org

Ismail Kadare is an Albanian novelist and poet. His novels combine Albanian legends, historical experiences, and contemporary context. Sometimes, Kadare's style is described as ironic, and the author himself doesn't shy away from "narrow topics," including politics. His most famous works include "The General of the Dead Army," "Chronicle in Stone," "Broken April," and "The Palace of Dreams."

His novel "Concert" was recognized by the French literary journal "Lire" as the best novel of 1991. In the 1990s, during Albania's totalitarian regime, Ismail Kadare sought political asylum in France, stating that "dictatorship and true literature are incompatible." Kadare's works have been translated into more than 30 languages, and in 2005, the Albanian genius received the Man Booker International Prize.

Ibrahim Kodra

Photo: Ibrahim Kodra, Source: https://en.wikiquote.org

Ibrahim Kodra is an Albanian artist whose works are known worldwide. He was born in the Albanian city of Ishëm. In 1929, Kodra first tried his hand at painting during lessons with the renowned Albanian sculptor Odhise Paskali. Through a series of events, Kodra's work ended up in the hands of Queen Geraldine. Subsequently, his life changed drastically, and in 1938, he went to Italy to study visual arts.

His studies were sponsored by the Albanian Kingdom. In Italy, Kodra received a scholarship from the Italian government and continued his education at the Brera Academy of Fine Arts in Milan. Kodra's works are exhibited alongside those of Picasso, Henri Matisse, Amedeo Modigliani, Georges Rouault, Dubuffet, and are held in the Vatican Museums and numerous private collections worldwide.

Inva Mula

Photo: Inva Mula , Source: https://www.facebook.com/inva.mula

Inva Mula is a globally renowned opera singer born in the capital of Albania, Tirana. Over the course of her career, she has performed on the world's grandest stages. However, she became iconic for her aria from Donizetti's opera "Lucia di Lammermoor" and "The Diva Dance" for Jean-Luc Besson's film "The Fifth Element." It was Inva Mula's singing that was mimicked on stage by French actress Maïwenn Le Besco in the role of Diva Plavalaguna – a tall, blue extraterrestrial being with eight tentacles.

Later, the singer performed in prominent opera houses across Europe, including La Scala in Milan, the Ravenna Festival, the Arena and Teatro Verdi in Verona, Marseille, Paris National Opera, Montpellier, Vienna State Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, and Los Angeles Opera.