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International Symposium on Bojan Adamič, May 4th 2022 in Tirana

24. 5. 2022

On May 4th, 2022, an international symposium on Bojan Adamič was held in Tirana, Albania.

The international event, which marked the celebration of 30 years of diplomatic relations between Slovenia and Albania, took place in the hall of the important Albanian historian Aleks Buda in the premises of the Albanian Academy of Sciences in Tirana. The ceremony began with the anthem of Albania and the anthem of Slovenia.
During the day, in addition to the description of Adamič’s musical creation, a lot of new and interesting information was heard about his work in 1947, which he spent in Albania. The first part of his report from that year was found in Belgrade in early May 2022.

The symposium was enriched by an exhibition of Adamič’s documents and photographs and by piano performance by renowned Albanian pianist Merita Rexha, who performed Adamič’s Ljubljana Concert.

Well-known academics and researchers from Albania, Slovenia and Kosovo took part in the international symposium and the celebration of 30 years of cooperation between the two countries on the diplomatic level. The symposium was organized on May 4th, 2022, exactly 75 years after Adamič was sent to Albania, probably as a punishment of the former Yugoslav system for his jazz-related activities.

We were pleased that the seminar brought together academics, composers and amateurs music from both countries, Slovenia and Albania.

The descriptions of speeches and reflections below are summarized and translated by the Albanian Academy of Sciences on May 5th 2022.

Introductory remarks by Academician Skënder Gjinushi, President of the Albanian Academy of Sciences.

Academician Skënder Gjinushi spoke about the excellent tradition of Albanian studies that existed in Slovenia even before the establishment of national academic institutions and expressed gratitude to renowned linguists Jernej Kopitar, Franc Miklošič and Rajko Nahtigal. On the occasion of this year’s 50th anniversary of the Spelling Congress, Academician Gjinushi highlighted the role of linguist Rajko Nahtigal, who also contributed to the process of unifying the Albanian alphabet, including preparing a monastery congress, participating in the Skodra Literary Commission, collaborating with Ndra Mjeda and other intelectuals.

Speaking about the tradition of grammatical and bilingual dictionaries, studies in comparative anthropology and translation, Academician Ginushi said that the presence of Slovenian intellectuals and artists as contributors to the mental and cultural life of Albania deserve equal honor and gratitude.

Among them is the composer Bojan Adamič, who as a composer and director dedicated part of his life to the development of cultural life in Albania in the period immediately after the victory of the anti-fascist war. So both nations are already united by the same aspiration: integration and coexistence in the United Europe as its equal citizens.

Academician Skënder Gjinushi

On behalf of the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Tirana, the participants were greeted by Ambassador H.E. Mr. Peter Japelj, who said that over 30 years diplomatic relations between Albania and Slovenia have always been strengthened through cooperation in all areas. Peter Japel especially congratulated Academician Vasil S. Tole for organizing today’s event and for the joint continuous cooperation.

H.E. Mr. Peter Japelj

Mrs. Megi Fino, Deputy Minister at The Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, thanked the two academies of science and the Slovenian Embassy in Tirana, saying such organizations were primarily human relations that began soon after the second part of Ufta, where Adamič dreamed of reviving the music. Among other things, Ms. Megi Fino recalled Adamič’s contribution to Radio Tirana and her collaboration with composer Dhora Leko, and thanked the two academies of science (Albania-Slovenia) for their contribution to Europe.

Mrs. Megi Fino

Academician Peter Štih, Head of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, sent a letter of congratulations in which he expressed gratitude to the Albanian Academy of Sciences for celebrating this important anniversary of laying the foundations of an institutional agreement for mutual scientific cooperation. He expressed his satisfaction that the Albanian Academy of Sciences, in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Tirana and the Academy of Music in Ljubljana, celebrated the 30th anniversary of diplomatic contacts between the two countries with a special event dedicated to popular Slovenian musician Bojan Adamič. Letter was ready by Mrs. Edita Dedia Pogace from the Albanian Academy of Sciences.

Mrs. Edita Dedia Pogace

Darja Koter, PhD, Academy of Music in Slovenia spoke about the influence of master Bojan Adamič on Slovenian, Yugoslav and Albanian culture. She recalled, among other things, how he was accused by American propaganda of playing jazz and sent to Albania as a criminal. Master Bojan Adamič, as a pianist, contributed to their music in Albania and also participated in activities that took place in connection with artists from both countries.

Darja Koter, PhD

Academician Vasil S. Tole, Vice President of the Albanian Academy of Sciences, spoke about master Bojan Adamič and his contribution to Albanian musical life after the Second World War. He said that in the years 1947-1948, master Bojan Adamič worked in Albania. These were years of reviving Albanian music in the institutional plan; in 1946 the Jordan Mission Artistic Lyceum was formed, and the Military Choir and Orchestra of Radio Tirana were formed. As for the creators, there were some of the most active names: among them Dhora Leka, a former composer of partisan compositions, Kristo Konon, Peter Dungun, Abdullah Grimcim, Constantin Trakon and Prenk Jakov.

Academician Vasil S. Tole presented the profile of Bojan Adamič as a pianist, arranger and composer during the memorial. After presenting the works and musical contributions of master Bojan Adamič in Albania, academician Vasil S. Tole said he knew Dhoro Lek personally, whose works were also arranged by Bojan Adamič and who lived and worked in Tirana until the liberation after 1948. He expressed his belief that the activity of master Bojan Adamič in Albania, although short, would open a new window in Albanian music studies, especially in cultural relations between the two countries.

Academician Vasil Tole

Mr. Pleurat Himaduma from Kosovo spoke about the contribution of master Bojan Adamič in Kosovo, where he influenced entire generations of artists, not only with his art, but also in the field of relations, respect for colleagues, assistance to Kosovo. Master Bojan Adamič was a kind of guardian angel of young Kosovo artists, as well as others. He recalled Adamic’s valuable contributions to Kosovo’s Albanian culture, such as the first soundtrack of an Albanian feature film, How to Die in 1972, etc. His contribution also extended to helping organize major music events in Kosovo.

Mr. Pleurat Himaduma

The well-known pianist Mrs. Merita Rexha, University of Music Arts, performed the musical work of Bojan Adamič with pianistic creativity, which was enthusiastically applauded by the participants.

Mrs. Merita Rexha

At the end, Mrs. Alenka Adamič, daughter of the composer Bojan Adamič, thanked the head of both academies for organizing the event and spoke about the memories and emotions experienced in different periods of the master Bojan Adamič. She presented family travels and life with her father, as well as memories related to Albania. Here he was attracted by many original folk elements, costumes and Albanian music. He was attracted to dances that were so noble and exciting for him.

Mrs. Alenka Adamič

The family of Bojan Adamič is very grateful to the Slovenian Ambassador in Tirana, H.E. Mr. Peter Japelj for the idea and realization of an important symposium related to the time Bojan Adamič spent in Albania. Their thanks goes also to all the co-organizers for this unforgettable event.

The international event was also followed via a zoom link. The clip is available here.