In Tirana, Albania, a state funeral was held for renowned Albanian novelist and poet Ismail Kadare who passed away earlier this week. Thousands of people gathered to pay their final respects to Kadare at the Opera and Ballet Theater in the capital’s Skanderbeg Square. The ceremony included a minute of silence observed nationwide to honor the late writer.
During the funeral, Kadare’s coffin, accompanied by National Guard officers, was placed at the entrance hall of the theater while his poems were recited in the background. Prime Minister Edi Rama praised Kadare for elevating Albanian literature to global recognition, stating, “He came, wrote and left.”
As the ceremony concluded, the crowd outside Skanderbeg Square clapped and threw flowers to bid farewell to Kadare. Albania and neighboring Kosovo announced two days of mourning, with flags flown at half-staff across both countries. Kosovo, which has a predominantly Albanian population, also observed a day of mourning in honor of the esteemed writer.
Political figures from Kosovo and North Macedonia, countries with significant Albanian communities, attended the funeral service. Kosovo President Bajram Begaj described Kadare as a symbol of national pride and a unique promoter of Albanian identity.
Following the public ceremony, Kadare was laid to rest in a private service attended by his family members. His legacy as a literary icon and cultural ambassador for Albania will be fondly remembered by his admirers both at home and around the world.
