For centuries, the Drini valley has been cut off from the rest of the world, as well as from the central powers in Albania and Shkoder. Locals would walk for days to reach the Shkodra market to exchange goods such as sheep wool, rakia, and wine. In return, they would obtain guns, lamp oil, salt, […]

Family is considered the most significant institution of society and has always been one of the main pillars of our constitution, “the Kanun of Leke Dukagjin.” In the past, and even to some extent today, families were large, consisting of an average of 35-50 people living and sharing their lives together in one house. The […]

Xhubleta, the women highlander traditional dress. Existing since 4500 years ago and inscribed in UNESCO on 2022 as a world heritage. It’s made completely out of wool with unique pagan-illyrian symbols and it was the only kind of wear that women and girls used in our mountains till the communism arrived. One year of time […]

Besa is a cultural precept in Albanian tradition that means “to keep the promise” and “word of honor”, often translated as “faith” or “oath”. It is a fundamental value in the Albanian customary law known as Kanun, which guides personal and social conduct. In Albanian mountains, even if someone had committed a murder, the giving […]