Kavajë


Kavajë is a municipality centrally located in the Western Lowlands region of Albania. It borders Durrës to the north, Tiranë to the east and Rrogozhinë to the south. To the west lies the Adriatic Sea. Based on the 2011 Census, the municipality had a population of 40,094 inhabitants, although the Civil Registry inferred the total number of inhabitants to be 79,556. The overall surface area is.

Origin

The name Kavajë is mentioned in Ottoman archives from the Land Registry of the Sanjak of Albania for the years 1431–1432. In the documents, first published by Turkish researcher Halil İnalcık this locality was part of.

History

Illyrian settlement

There have been varied opinions on the origin of Kavajë as an inhabited settlement. Until recently, researchers believed the early beginnings of this region as a settlement should be sought somewhere in the middle of the 16th century. However, relying on the findings of geological fragments and inscriptions, it appears that the origin of this settlement can be traced back to the first centuries BCE.
The present day territory of Kavajë has been inhabited since the Late Antiquity. It is believed that the Illyrian tribe of Taulantii built their city Arnisa in the area today known as Zik-Xhafaj.
Ensuing the Roman Conquest of the region, Kavajë would establish itself as a transit route for Via Egnatia – the road was built by the Romans in order to link a chain of their colonies stretching from the Adriatic Sea to the Bosphorus.
The famous Battle of Pharsalus between Julius Caesar and his archrival Pompey took place near Shkëmbi i Kavajës, at the time known as Petra.

Skuraj and Matrangaj rule

In the second half of the 13th century and up until the early 15th century, much of central Albania and its surrounding region were ruled by a few powerful feudal families. The two most prominent families that ruled Kavajë at this time were the feudal families of Skuraj and Matrangaj. The Skuraj family, as direct descendants of the dynasty that founded the Principality of Arbanon controlled the eastern part of Kavajë. Their emblem depicted a lion standing up on one foot and reaching up to grab a fleur-de-lis. This symbol would later be used as the official Emblem of the City of Tirana. The Zguraj neighborhood of Kavajë is named after the Skuraj Dynasty that ruled the region.

The Matrangaj family as the most powerful rulers of the region had established their center in Bashtovë. They controlled most of the Myzeqe plains and the coastal hills of Karpen.

Ottoman Period

Pashalik of Kavaja (1775–1831)

Ottoman writer and traveler Evliya Çelebi describes Kavajë in this 1670 memoir:
Scottish diplomat David Urquhart describes his encounter upon arriving in Kavajë in this 1831 piece:

Independence years

Albanian-American Institute of Agriculture

The Albanian-American Institute of Agriculture, alternatively known as "The Albanian-American School of Agriculture and Domestic Science" was a technical school of higher education founded in Kavajë in 1926 by Dr.Charles Telford Erickson.
Dr. Erickson was a missionary to Albania who had offered political advice to the Vatra delegation at the Paris Peace Conference of 1919. The school he founded, aimed to promote the knowledge of modern scientific agriculture and provide a thorough training to young Albanians.
The girls school was inaugurated on September 20 and the boys agriculture school opened on October 10 of that same year. Cost for enrollment was 50 gold franga per month. The students could study continuously for three straight years with an option for two additional years given to those with excellent results. Classes were taught in both Albanian and English language.
Funding for the project was made possible by the Near East Foundation who had commissioned New York based studio "Thompson & Churchill" in charge of the architectural design. Following the Italian fascist occupation of 1939, the school was briefly renamed Italian Agrarian Institute "Arnaldo Mussolini" in honor of Benito Mussolini's younger brother.

WWII

At the start of World War II, approximately 600 Jews lived in the Republic of Albania. About 400 of them were German and Austrian refugees and the rest were from nearby countries like Yugoslavia and Greece. The largest number of these refugees, some 200 in total, were placed at a camp in Kavajë where they would later find shelter amongst the local population.
The citizens of Kavajë gave an invaluable contribution in the housing and sheltering of Jewish refugees during the war. The names of Mihal Lekatari, Besim Kadiu and Shyqyri Myrto are placed on the list of the Righteous among the Nations honored by Yad Vashem.

Industrial revolution

Known primarily as an agricultural region, in the early decade of the 1960s Kavajë started to emerge as an important industrial center in Albania. Following is a list of the major industrial plants that operated in the city:

The first anti-communist revolt in Kavajë took place in the Summer of 1988. It was a union strike organized by Nazmi Roli, Fatmir Veliu, Skënder Germani, Viktor Rrapi and others who were protesting against job cuts and poor working conditions on behalf of the pottery workers and those who worked at the textile plant and the glass factory. In the succeeding months, the city's youth which at the time was forced by the regime to work in agriculture cooperatives, started distributing anti-communist leaflets at local shops, schools and villages nearby. Enver Hoxha's portrait was torn apart at the city's main high school and at the SMT. The perpetrators were Qazim Kariqi, Alket Alushi, Xhevat Hylviu, Artan Lajthia, Adem Hylviu, Arben Goga, Artan Çelhyka, Tahir Okshtuni, Josif Budo, Mihal Budo, Skënder Llixha etc. These were powerful blows that brought embarrassment to the leadership of the party and the state security apparatus. On March 26, 1990, the first active demonstration in Albania took place in the streets of Kavajë. The event that triggered these demonstrations was the football match between local club Besa and Tirana club Partizani which had long been favored by the regime. Angry fans threw banners on the field detesting the system. After the match, numerous people were arrested by the police. Outraged citizens took on the streets and burned the city's police building thus marking the first event of importance against the regime at the time.

Geography

Kavajë is a municipality built on the coastal plains of Albania's Western Lowlands region. Located just south of the Bay of Durrës, it is partially engulfed by two small river streams, Leshniqe to the west-northwest and Darçi to the west-southwest. The municipality borders Durrës to the north at latitude 41°15'N with Përroi i Agait, which flows into the sea, being the dividing border line. The eastern hills near Kryezi border Tirana at longitude 19°38'E. To the south, Rrogozhinë is bordered at the intersecting point between Luz i Vogël and Luz i Madh at latitude 41°07'N. The Adriatic Sea faces the western side, with Kepi i Lagjit being its most extreme point at longitude 19°27'E. Within these boundaries the municipality has an approximate surface area of 198.81 km2.
The highest elevation point is the peak of Bezmajet which reaches a height of. The lowest depression point is found near the shores of Karpen at below sea level.

Villages

Coastline

Kavajë's coastline measures roughly at a length of and is mostly flat with plenty of sandy and gravel beaches. The main beaches are: Golem, Karpen, Carina, Kepi i Lagjit, Plazhi i Gjeneralit, Spille, Greth.

Climate

Kavajë is located in a Mediterranean Climate region where the summers are dry and hot and the winters are wet and mild. Average surface temperatures range annually between.

Monuments of Nature

Monuments of Nature are considered those objects/places of living or non-living nature which possess exceptional scientific, ecological, cultural, historical and religious value.
The following objects/places are declared natural monuments in this region by decree nr.767 dated 20 December 2002: Salt Springs of Golemas, Sulfurous Springs of Fliballie, Laurel of Turrë Castle, Coastal Cliffs of Bardhor, Carina Beach, Sea Fossils of Thartor, Aligned Rocks in Cikallesh, General's Beach, Karstic Caves in Mengaj

Demographics

Population density in urban areas was 285 inhabitants per km2 and in rural areas much less. 57.6% of the people in the district lived in rural areas whereas 42.4% lived in the city. The gender structure of the population is almost equal. Only 48% of the workforce is employed. Since 1990, more than 25% of the total population in the district has migrated elsewhere, mainly to countries like: Italy, Greece, Great Britain, France, Germany, United States and Canada. A smaller percentage has migrated towards neighbouring Durrës and the capital, Tirana.

Education

The first Albanian language school opened in Kavajë in the late summer of 1887.
The former District of Kavajë has established a public and a private school system which serves for the upbringing and education of the children and youth. Educational Institutions operating in Kavajë are listed as follows:

Administration

City Planning

Kavajë's General Regulatory Masterplan was drafted in 1994 and approved in that same year by the district council. In the masterplan the city extended over an area of and was spatially divided into several functional zoning schemes. The Functional Zoning Regulation and The Functional Zoning Map of 2007 divided the city into the following: 1)Inhabited Zone, 2)City Center Zone, 3)Economic Zone, 4)Green Zone, 5)Sports Zone, 6)Hospital Zone, 7)Cemetery Zone.
The aforementioned Functional Zoning Regulation and The Functional Zoning Map are prepared over a period of 3–5 years. In addition, partial plans are laid out for each of the zoning areas. Each plan studies the development of the area, where to set up a school, a kindergarten, a park, a recreational area, etc.
The new City Center Masterplan devised by Tirana-based architecture studio "Atelier4" was approved in 2007. The plan covered an area of which included the historic city center, the creation of a new administrative center, a cultural center and a commercial center.

Economy

Agriculture

In Kavajë the climate and soil are suitable for the cultivation of fruits and vegetables, among others strawberries and artichokes. 2,451 ha of agriculture land is used for the cultivation of vegetables where the yield was 186.9 quintals/ha.
Fresh vegetables like: tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumber, leek, cabbage, green beans, okra, spinach, carrots, etc. are planted on 1,214 ha of land with a yield of 179.2 quintals/ha. Dried vegetables such as onions, garlic, etc. are planted on 370 ha of land and yield 75.5 quintals/ha.
Watermelons, cantaloupes, etc. are planted on 867 ha of land and provide an output of 245.4 quintals/ha. Potatoes are planted on 450 ha of land and yield 93.7 quintals/ha. Beans are planted on 1,415 ha of land and yield 11.6 quintals/ha.
Fodder is also widely cultivated: hay, clover, corncob, etc. cover 6,924 ha of land and yield an output of 291.3 quintals/ha. The largest production comes from hay.

Healthcare

A whole system of public and non-public health institutions operates in the district to provide services and caring to the health of its citizens. In both municipalities operate 178 doctors and 240 nurses and assistants. There are 5 hospitals, 11 health centers and 66 ambulances. In 2008 the central government provided funds to build a new hospital for the city. It was inaugurated 3 years later.
The health services provided by all health institutions include the following: Pathology, Pediatrics, Surgery, Cardiology, Infectious Disease Control, Neurology, Psychiatry, Nephrology, Ophthalmology, Dermatology, Orthopedics, Rheumatology, Hematology, Endocrinology, Emergency Services, Allergology, Physio-Therapy, Pediatrics, Gynocology, Obstretics.. etc.
Dental Services are fully privatized with the exception of 9-year primary schools. A total of 8 private dental clinics operate in the city of Kavajë. Pharmaceutical Services are also fully private. In the whole district there are a total of 12 pharmacies.

Culture

Theater movement in Kavajë has its origins in early 1919. Several teachers and patriots at the time took the initiative to give spark to the emancipation of the city's cultural life.

Folklore

Folk Music

In the early 20th century, most folk songs were performed with a flute or kavalli as it was known in this area. Initially made of wood and later of metal, kavalli consisted of two rods, in length with 6 holes attached to each side and with an upper hole which served as some type of a counterbase.
Folk songs were commonly performed by one person. Later performances included more people, mainly in the singing of the chorus. Women always performed together using tambourines.
Folk Dancing

Folk dancing has been a long-standing tradition in Kavajë. Some of the most popular dances include: "Vallja e Zileve", "Vallja e Qypave", "Vallja dyshe e rëndë e Kavajës", "Vallja e Qilimave", etc.
Among the most outstanding dancers and choreographers who have remained popular include: Zyhra and Gani Ferra, Remzi Gjeçi, Madrid Maliqati, Ibrahim Roçi, Gëzim Agolli, Arianit Boraku, Leonard Mitrushi, Esdalin Gorani, Myrteza Dimni and others.
Folk Costumes

Historically the most commonly used men's costume was the kilt or the fustanella, which had been in use up until the Proclamation of Independence of 1912. In the later period, looser clothing started to become the trend. Men wore long sleeve shirts accompanied by artistically sewed vests. Trousers were loosely knitted with wool and were black or dark brown. White trousers were used on significant events and holidays. Also included in the costume was a long woolen belt or leather belt, woolen socks and cow leather sandals or moccasins decorated with tufts at the front.
Women's costumes included a type of headdress embroidered with gold and filled with small silver coins. These were typically worn by young brides. Women also wore long-sleeved uncollared shirts, accompanied by a small vest embroidered in silk or gold threads. On the bottom, they wore half slips covered by a type of loosely wrapped clothing known as dimite, which was usually white.
For walking, they wore white cotton or silk socks accompanied by tailored shoes, sandals or slippers.
When a woman left the house to visit someone, she would wear a long, brightly colored dress made of satin.
Lyrical Songs

Lyrical songs express human feelings and spiritual experiences. They express different moments of a person's life, the joy of love, friendship, grief, hatred and other various phenomena of life's attitudes. Some of the most authentic lyrical songs from this region include: "Mun aty ke shtatë zymbylat", "Këndon gjeli pika-pika", "Kënga e gjemitarit", all believed to have been composed and sung by popular singers of the time like Pol Kanapari, Hasan Sakati, Zenel Kalushi and Islam Xhatufa.
Other popular singers include Thabit Rexha, Liri Rama, Desire Pezaku, Nysrete Hylviu and undoubtedly the greatest of them all Parashqevi Simaku.
Historical Songs

Historical songs are dedicated to historical events and prominent historical figures. They are generally created by people who lived these events or are in some ways attached to them. The oldest historical song that is well-preserved even today is titled "Kënga për mbrojtjen e Ulqinit". Other historical songs worth mentioning include: "Kënga e Ceno Kavajës", "Kënga e Sulë Mustafës", "Bubullin ke Shkambi Kavajës", etc.

Storytelling

In Albania the phrase “Llogje Kavaje” or “Lloqe Kavaje” is a regional pejorative denoting the word gossip. It suggests a person who gossips or says things which evidently turn out not to be true.
A few old proverbs from Kavajë:
The Ethnographic Museum of Kavajë, completed in 1971, was built on a restored building with a hajat, the type of which was widespread throughout the 18th century. Its architectonic origin however dates back to the late antiquity in the typology of a "villa rustica", commonly present in the region. After the full restoration of the building, the newly formed museum would be given the status of a cultural monument. The managing group which programmed the conceptual orientation and realisation of the museum was made up of the most reputable authorities of the time in the studies of ethnography. The main characteristic of the museum's ethnographic fund is defined by the variety of its objects and their diverse origin. Craft works composed in ceramic, copper and textiles from local craftsmen representing the city and the region are present for display. So is a large collection of works from the Northern, North-Eastern and Southern regions of Albania. The elements of the traditional costumes from these regions are distinguished for their level of mastery and finesse, for the richness of the ornaments and symbols merged into geometric, zoomorphic and anthropomorphic forms.
Other Cultural Monuments found in the region of Kavajë: St.Paraskevi's Church ' built in 1280; Clock Tower ' built in 1817; Bukaq Bridge ' built in the 18th century; Depots of the former Karpen Saltern ' built in the 17th century; Bashtovë Fortress built in the 15th century.

Media

Kavajë has one local television station, TV6 – – and one local radio station, Radio Fantazia. The now discontinued Kavaja Progres was a weekly publication that began circulation in the late fall of 2007. Printed in a newspaper format, it covered mostly socio-economic issues and other daily aspects of city life. Its editorials were perceived to be overly critical of the then-run democratic administration. The paper's publication abruptly ceased in mid-summer of 2009 with the pretext that it lacked funding. This raised speculations that it had been used as a propaganda piece all along by the local socialist party base, in effort to influence the upcoming general elections.

Religion

The population of Kavajë belongs in part to two religious denominations, Muslim and Orthodox Christian. The Muslim population nominally makes up ¾ of the total population. The remaining ¼ belong to the Orthodox faith. These are estimates which don't hold into account atheists and other non-believers. The municipality office maintains no official statistics on religion.
The largest of the four mosques in the city is Kubelie Mosque ', named after the old mosque built by Kapllan Beu in 1736 and later demolished by the communist regime in 1967. The existing mosque was rebuilt in 1994.
The Piety Mosque ' was built in the Zguraj neighbourhood in 2001 with funds from a Saudi charity organization. The Dedei Mosque ' was built in 2005 with funds from the Dedei Family. There is also a small teqe built in recent years within the city limits and another one in the village of Luz i Madh.
Followers of the orthodox faith attend the Shën Kolli Church located near Besa Stadium. The church was rebuilt in 1997, on the same land as the old one with funds from Greece.
St.Paraskevi's Church ' is located east of Kavajë in the village of Çetë. It was built during the 13th century and today serves as a cultural monument. The frescos inside the church are works of the well-known iconic painter Kostandin Shpataraku.
A smaller church is found in the village of Rreth-Greth, formerly a part of Kryevidh Commune. It's attended by the locals of that area.

Sports

The small town of Kavajë has a storied history associated with the game of football in Albania.
Hometown club Besa, which was founded in 1925, has for decades produced talents for the National Team in all youth and senior levels. In 1973, Besa gained fame for being the first Albanian football club to move into the second round of the UEFA Cup Winner's Cup. Two years prior Besa had been a Balkans Cup finalist, where they lost to Greek side Panionios 2–3 on aggregate. In the competition Besa won Group A against FK Crvenka and Veliko Tarnovo.
The club has won two Albanian Cup titles having appeared in the final eight times. They have placed as Superliga runners-up twice and have established third-place a total of eleven times. Some of the most memorable matches are the 9–1 win over Flamurtari in 1937, the 12–0 win over Elbasani in 1945, the 11–0 win over Apolonia in 1965 and the 7–1 win versus Sk Tirana in 1992.
Besa is also a winner of six different cups. In 1946 it won the "Kryesia e Federatës Sportive" Cup, in 1953 and 1957 it won the "Bashkimet Profesionale të Shqipërisë" Cup, in 1961 and 1963 it won the "Gazeta Sporti" Cup, in 1965 it won the "Gazeta Bashkimi" Cup. Youth team Besa U-19 has been crowned Albanian champions twice, in the 1992–1993 and 2008–2009 seasons. The U-17 team was most recently crowned champions in 2018.
Throughout its history Besa has competed in international tournaments and friendlies against such clubs as Sarajevo, Odra Opole, Dynamo Berlin, Progresul, Veliko Tarnovo, Crvenka, Panionios, Fremad Amager, Hibernian, Pas Ioannina, Bezanija, Litex Lovech, Ethnikos Achnas, Grasshopper Zürich, Olympiacos.
The former district region of Kavajë has three other professional football clubs: Egnatia Rrogozhinë, Golemi FC and Luzi United.

Notable people