Rrahman DEDAJ
BIOGRAPHY
Rrahman Dedaj (b. 1939) is a poet in constant evolution
and one who has contributed substantially to the modernization
of Albanian verse in Kosova. Dedaj was born near Podujeva and
studied Albanian language and literature in Prishtina before
becoming executive editor of Rilindja Publishing Company. He
moved to London during the 1999 Kosova war and died there on
21 August 2005.
Dedaj’s poetic works are characterized by rich, emotive
expression, by an almost mathematical precision in structure
and semantics and by a search for a balance between tradition
and modernity. His first collection Me sy kange, Prishtina
1962 (With eyes of song) evinced both personal and social motifs.
In Simfonia e fjalës, Prishtina 1968 (Word symphony),
his sensitive lyrics took on more neo-romantic tones, with an
Orphean world of blossoms and butterflies. Later volumes, in
particular Baladë e fshehur, Prishtina 1970 (Hidden
ballad), Etje, Prishtina 1973 (Thirst) and Gjërat
që s'preken, Prishtina 1980 (Things intangible), inaugurated
a new stage in Kosovo verse, more attuned to contextual symbols
and myths. This neosymbolist verse often runs rampant with animal
and plant metaphors caught up and preserved in disciplined, elliptical
structures. Recent collections include Jeta gabon, Prishtina
1983 (Life makes mistakes), Fatkeqësia e urtisë,
Prishtina 1987 (The misfortune of wisdom), and Kryqëzim
hijesh, Prishtina 1997 (Crossing of shadows). |
Albanian Literature in Translation
Modern
Authors from Kosova, Macedonia and Montenegro (late 20th
- 21st centuries)
