In this episode, Rina Limoni, founder and host of the Diasporas Speaking Podcast will be interviewed by Arbër Qerka-Gashi, to reflect on her life experiences through music. Using songs and music as prompts to evoke memories, the conversation delves into how these songs and music have accompanied Rina throughout her journey of displacement and migration, through the difficulties of navigating identity formation, code switching in different environments and exploring the personal significance they hold and the ways they symbolise key moments in her life

Writing Oneself into History: Queer, Bosnian, Muslim, and Foreign with Ervin Malakaj Ervin Malakaj was born in Doboj. In the 1990s he lived as refugee in Germany before immigrating to the USA. After completing graduate degrees in German studies, he became a professor at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, where he currently lives with his partner and dog. Ervin’s scholarly work focuses on queer and diaspora studies with a special focus on visual culture. He is currently completing a book of personal essays about live in the queer Bosnian diaspora provisionally titled Tetka Theory.What does it mean to write oneself into history when your existence sits at the margins: queer, Bosnian, Muslim, and foreign?In this episode of Diasporas Speaking, Dr Ervin Malakaj joins us for a moving and critical conversation on identity, displacement, and the radical act of self-definition. Blending personal narrative with critical insight, Dr Malakaj reflects on the politics of visibility, the weight of inherited histories, and the transformative power of storytelling. Together, we explore how queerness, diaspora, and cultural memory intersect and how speaking, writing, and remembering become vital acts of survival, resistance, and belonging.Intro music: North-Albanian Instrumental.Interlude: Himzo Polovina - 'Snijeg Pade Na Behar, Na Voće'

Selma Jahić was born in 1988 in Srebrenica and grew up nearby in a village called Blječeva. During the war years from 1992 to 1995, she and her family stayed exclusively in Srebrenica and the surrounding area.In August 1995, Selma came to Vienna after being expelled from Srebrenica in July 1995, a time during which she lost many family members. Since then, she has been living in Vienna. She completed her schooling in Austria and trained as a media designer.She currently works as a content manager for a public institution. In her private life, Selma is very active as an activist and has been deeply involved in memorial work related to the genocide against the Bosniaks for several years.On 11 July 1995, in the town of Srebrenica declared a United Nations "safe area" two years earlier—over 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were systematically murdered by Bosnian Serb forces. At the time the worst atrocity committed on European soil since the Second World War.Despite rulings from international courts, including the ICTY and the ICJ, formally recognising the massacre as genocide, denial and political manipulation continue to distort the truth. Over 8,300 victims have been identified, yet the remains of more than 1,000 are still missing.Truth, accountability, and recognition of the genocide are essential for reconciliation and lasting peace in the Western Balkans.For this episode of Diasporas Speaking, I speak with Selma Jahić, who, together with her brother and mother, survived the Srebrenica genocide. She shares her family’s story of survival, loss, and the ongoing fight for justice and remembrance.

From the Margins to the Centre: Reframing Mental Health Through a Community Lens with Alberta Sinani

Alberta Sinani is a Kosovo-born artist and community psychologist based in Austria. Her work explores themes of migration, intergenerational resilience, and liberation practices within communities. As a Fulbright Student in the U.S., she has focused on immigrant youth mental health and civic engagement—work that inherently demands generational healing as a first step toward sustainable peacebuilding. With a background in political science and social design, Alberta bridges academia, activism, and art to create transformative spaces for collective healing and agency, grounded in cross-communal solidarity.

Community psychology is a branch of psychology that looks beyond the individual to understand how wider social, economic, and cultural factors shape people's lives. It focuses on collective wellbeing, social justice, and empowering communities to address the root causes of inequality- such as poverty, discrimination, and marginalisation.In this episode, I am joined by Alberta Sinani, who shares her insights into how community psychology engages with these communities-not to impose solutions, but to work with them, recognising their strengths and supporting grassroots efforts to create meaningful change.Intro music:

North-Albanian Instrumental

Interlude: Defatoret Shamikuqet - 'Potpuri'.

Post-2000 Migration from Serbia: Storming Against Your Government's Political Legacy with Damnjan Jovanović'sDamnjan Jovanović was born in Montenegro and grew up in Serbia, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology from the University of Belgrade. A passionate technologist, Damnjan is fluent in multiple programming languages and thrives at the intersection of creative work, human connection, and technical problem-solving.Driven by curiosity and a love for engaging with people, he brings energy to every project and finds inspiration in meaningful audience interactions. Outside of work, Damnjan lives by a "family first" philosophy. He’s a proud father who cherishes time spent camping, hiking, exploring, and simply being present with his loved ones—no car, just adventure and closeness.A devoted endurance athlete, Damnjan’s biggest personal treat is long-distance triathlons. These solo challenges fuel his deep connection to nature, mindfulness, and the power of the human body in motion.In this episode, we explore the political legacy of Slobodan Milošević and how it continues under the leadership of Aleksandar Vučić. From nationalism to media control, we trace the threads of authoritarianism that have shaped Serbia’s post-Yugoslav reality. We also look at why so many Serbians—especially the young and educated—are choosing to leave, driven by corruption, stagnation, and a lack of real change.Tune in to listen to Damnjan Jovanović's story and understand how a healthy alternative to history can exist. Intro: North-Albanian Instrumental

After all, Eurovision explains everything with Dr Catherine Baker

Dr Catherine Baker is Reader in 20th Century History at the University of Hull. Her research on narratives of national and European identity in media and popular culture centres on the post-Yugoslav space and its transnational connections, from the Eurovision Song Contest to the region’s place in global politics of race. She is the author of books including Race and the Yugoslav Region: Postsocialist, Post-Conflict, Postcolonial? and Sounds of the Borderland: Popular Music, War and Nationalism in Croatia Since 1991, and The Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s. She is co-editor (with Bogdan C. Iacob, Anikó Imre and James Mark) of Off White: Central and Eastern Europe and the Global Politics of Race, and editor of three other volumes. She is a former co-convenor of the British International Studies Association’s South-East Europe Working Group.

The Eurovision Song Contest is more than just a music competition — it mirrors European politics, culture, and identity, defying its territorial borders.Eurovision often reflects international relations, national image-making, and political tensions.Voting patterns sometimes align with regional alliances or historical ties, while performances and song choices can make political statements or respond to current events. In this way, Eurovision claims to be unpolitical but acts as a stage where broader political and social dynamics play out, ofiering insight into how countries see themselves and each other within Europe.In this episode I will be joined by Dr Catherine Baker, where together we will explore how Balkan popular culture has shaped and been showcased in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Intro: North-Albanian Instrumental

Interlude: Severina - 'Prijateljice'

#eurovision #balkans #kosovo #kosova #albania #bosnia #croatia #montenegro #northmacedonia #serbia #slovenia #diaspora #diasporasspeaking

Sounds of Struggle: Music and Cultural Divides in 1990s Serbia with Dr Eric Gordy

Dr Eric Gordy is Professor of Political and Cultural Sociology at the School for Slavonic and East European Studies, University College London. His research concentrates on Southeast Europe, especially the states of the former Yugoslavia. He is the author of The Culture of Power in Serbia: Nationalism and the Destruction of Alternatives and Guilt, Responsibility and Denial: The Past at Stake in Post-Milošević Serbia, and editor (with Adnan Efendić) of Meaningful reform in the Western Balkans: Between formal institutions and informal practices and (with Alena Ledeneva and Predrag Cvetičanin) Captured societies in Southeast Europe. He was coordinator and principal investigator for the Horizon 2020 research project INFORM: Closing the Gap Between Formal and Informal Institutions in the Balkans.

The 1990s in Serbia were a time of deep social, political, and cultural upheaval. Music and lived experience during this period reflect a society grappling with war, isolation, poverty, nationalism, resilience, and cultural rebellion. In the 1990s, turbo-folk emerged as the soundtrack of the Milosevié era, mixing traditional folk beats and electronic elements. Critics decried it as a symbol of cultural decay, while fans saw it as a form of identity and catharsis. Meanwhile, rock, punk, and alternative music offered a counter-narrative of intellectual dissent and anti-war messages, resonating with youth disillusioned by nationalism. These musical movements represented Serbia's cultural divide: one rooted in nationalist nostalgia and the other in resistance to authoritarianism.Music became a battleground reflecting societal tensions, survival, and escapism.Stark contrasts between cultural decay, rebellion, and the yearning for change defined the 90s in Serbia-while the state played out the wars in the region.

Intro music: North Albanian Instrumental.

Interlude: Električni Orgazam ‧ 1981 - 'Krokodili dolaze'.

Living the Political: Choosing Kosovo with Her Excellency Kosovar Ambassador to the Kingdom of Norway Dr. Nita Luci

H.E. Dr. Nita Luci is Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo to the Kingdom of Norway. She holds an MA and PhD in Anthropology from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and assistant professorship in anthropology at the University of Prishtina.

Her academic, teaching and research practice, as well as activism, has focused on issues of gender inequalities, social and political movements, and the state.She has published on topics of masculinity, contemporary and activist art, digital heritage and memory, and participatory action research.

In 2014 she spearheaded the establishment of the University Program for Gender Studies and Research at the University of Prishtina. She has also contributed to gender equality processes in Kosova through research, CSO development, assessment and design of projects intersecting political, social, and legal dimensions of social and gender inequalities.

Her latest cowritten publication is 'Epistemic justice and everyday nationalism: An auto-ethnography of transnational student encounters in a post-war memory and reconciliation project in Kosovo'.

From time to time, I will conduct interviews with individuals whose personal histories in Kosovo have been deeply intertwined with the experience of the diaspora an experience that stands apart as unique.This series will explore the decision to return to Kosovo, even when the option to live abroad remains available. It will delve into how these individuals have shaped their life paths, and how events back home have influenced their journeys.Intro music:

North-Albanian Instrumental.

Interlude: Minatori - 'Te dua sa Kosoven'.

Gendered experiences in the legal system: refugee and migrant women with Hana MarkuHana Marku is an immigration and refugee lawyer in Toronto, Canada. She practices law at Marku & Lee Immigration and Refugee Lawyers, where she is a principal lawyer alongside her firm partner Damey Lee. She has lived between Canada and Kosova, having gone back and forth a few times. She was formerly a writer, editor, and researcher based in Prishtina, focused on gender equality and transitional justice. She loves chocolate, swimming, reading, and occasionally throwing a rock into the machine of the immigration system.In the next episode of Diasporas Speaking, we'll dive into the complex realities of immigration and how different social positions shape people's experiences when moving to a new country. Women, in particular, often face more significant challenges, whether they're coming on family visas to join their spouses, seeking asylum, or worse, when they're trafficked and left vulnerable outside the protection of the law. Their legal status can severely limit their ability to stay in the country and their access to work and essential services like social benefits.Rather than simply granting or denying entry, immigration and asylum systems create a hierarchy. Research shows that women face disproportionate struggles throughout their migration journeys, often finding themselves marginalised, with their voices going unheard and their concerns largely ignored. This leaves them navigating a new, unfamiliar environment with little support or agency.To help us unpack these issues, we'll be joined by Hana Marku, an Immigration and Refugee Lawyer based in Toronto, Canada.Together, we'll explore the legal challenges women face when seeking refuge or migrating and what can be done to better protect their rights.Intro music: North-Albanian Instrumental. Interlude: Andrra - 'Shen Gjergji'

Raising Political Awareness: The Role of Extracurricular Civic Education with Nejra Dedić-Demirović

Non-formal Political Education refers to educational processes and activities that take place outside of regular school instruction, aiming to raise individuals' political awareness and political maturity. It is generally directed at various age groups and target audiences and is offered by different actors such as political foundations, associations, youth organisations, media, or even state institutions.

The goal of non-formal political education is to empower people to actively and thoughtfully participate in political processes, to form well-founded awareness on political issues, and to understand and shape democracy. It not only promotes knowledge about political structures but also fosters the development of critical thinking, tolerance, and respectful dialogue between different communities.

In this episode, I will be joined by Nejra Dedic-Demirovié to discuss her work in non-formal political education in various settings and its importance in the current political climate in Germany.

Nejra Dedić-Demirović ist in Bosnien und Herzegowina geboren und lebt heute im Ruhrgebiet. Sie arbeitet als Politische Bildnerin und lehrt an der Universität Duisburg-Essen sowie FH Dortmund.

Kosovo and Statehood: The Battle for Recognition and the Fight Against De-recognition with Dr Gezim Visoka.Dr Gëzim Visoka is the Associate Dean for Research in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and Associate Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies in the School of Law and Government at Dublin City University (DCU). Dr Visoka is a leading international scholar on statehood and state recognition, and post-conflict peacebuilding and statebuilding. His research focuses on the making, remaking, and unmaking of states and peace processes in contemporary world politics. He is the author and editor of 12 published books, over 30 peer-reviewed journal articles, and over 25 book chapters published with leading university presses and global academic publishers. Among his published works are: The Derecognition of States (2024); The Oxford Handbook of Peacebuilding, Statebuilding, and Peace Formation (with Oliver P. Richmond, 2021), Normalization in World Politics (with Nicolas Lemay-Hébert, 2021); and Palgrave Encyclopaedia of Peace and Conflict Studies (with Oliver P. Richmond, 2021). His work has been with leading international peer-reviewed journals, such as: Nature, International Affairs, European Journal of International Relations, Journal of Common Market Studies; Geopolitics; Review of International Studies; Cooperation and Conflict; International Studies Review; Foreign Policy Analysis; International Peacekeeping; and Civil Wars. Dr Visoka is the founding Editor of Routledge Studies in Statehood (Taylor & Francis), and Co-Editor of Rethinking Peace and Conflict Studies (Palgrave) together with Oliver P. Richmond and Annika Björkdahl). When Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on February 17, 2008, it was a significant moment in the post-conflict Balkans.However, for a state to be recognised, it must meet specific criteria under international law.States do not exist in a vacuum. Geopolitics and diplomacy play a significant role in either supporting or hindering a state's ability to thrive on the international stage and become part of the so-called international society.For smaller states like Kosovo, a multifaceted diplomatic effort is essential. Yet, in the face of an aggressor like the state of Serbia, Kosovo continues to struggle against the efforts of its neighbour, undermining its sovereignty and legitimacy in the global arena.Kosovo's path to independence and its ongoing struggle for recognition make it a compelling case for the study of statehood, sovereignty, and international diplomacy.To delve into the key aspects and trajectory of Kosovo's Independence, I spoke with Dr. Gezim Visoka.We discussed his research on statehood, Kosovo's struggle for recognition, and his latest book, The Derecognition of States.Intro music: North-Albanian instrumental.Interlude: Ilir Shaqiri - 'Udhet e Mia'.

Framing Post-2000 Kosovo E-Migration: Between the Legacy of War and a New Generation of Professionals In this episode, we are joined by Dr Vjosa Musliu, who will share her motivations for emigrating from Kosovo and reflect on the period that led to the new journey in Belgium. The existing literature on Kosovar emigration primarily focuses on those who left before or during the 1990s, driven by economic hardships and human rights abuses. However, the post-2000 emigration wave, including those who left Kosovo for education, career advancement, or on spousal visas, still needs to be explored. While it is well-documented that guest workers left Yugoslavia due to limited job opportunities, especially for Kosovar Albanians, and that the 1990s migration was driven by systemic oppression, the motivations and contexts for post-2000 migration have yet to be fully theorised or analysed.In this podcast, we will periodically engage with diaspora members who belong to this more recent wave of migration. The aim is to understand their motivations for leaving Kosovo and to document their experiences living abroad. What does it mean to emigrate with language proficiency skills and (though problematic) visa and professional opportunities (or lack thereof) in the internet era, where the understanding of distance has been blurred? And how does this change Kosovar emigration dynamics and perceptions?Dr. Vjosa Musliu is an assistant professor of international relations at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). Her research focuses on international interventions, EU external relations and how the EU creates and maintains its relations with its ‘others’. She is also a co-editor of the Routledge Studies on Intervention and Statebuilding Series and a member of the Yugoslawomen+ Collective. Her new book (forthcoming in 2025) called “Girlhood at war: interpreting war and liberation in Kosovo” explores themes of everyday resistance, war and liberation in Kosovo.

What happens when a place declares independence?How does the political landscape evolve in the aftermath, and how do these shifts affect the people and political figures dealing with the past in that newly independent state?

These questions will guide our conversation in February, which coincides with Kosovo's Independence anniversary on the 17th and the parliamentary elections on the 9th.

To kick off this mini-series exploring diverse perspectives, primarily from the diaspora, I interviewed Dr Aidan Hehir about his latest book, 'Kosovo and the Internationals: Hope, Hubris, and the End of History'.

In our discussion, we explored how the politics of 'hope', a central tenant in Aidan's latest book, shaped Kosovo's political trajectory during the 1990s and post-2000s.

Dr Aidan Hehir is a Reader in International Relations at the University of Westminster. His research interests include transitional justice, humanitarian intervention, and statebuilding in Kosovo. He is the author/editor of twelve books; his most recent book is Kosovo and the Internationals: Hope, Hubris and the End of History (2024: Palgrave Macmillan). He has published over fifty academic book chapters and journal articles, is co-editor of the Routledge Studies in Intervention and Statebuilding book series, and is a regular contributor to national and international television and radio.

Intro music: North Albanian instrumental.

Interlude: Jericho - 'Kanga jone'.

Nik Jovčić-Sas will be our guest for this episode of Diasporas Speaking.

Thank you to Arbër Qerka-Gashi for agreeing to co-host this episode with me.

Nik Jovčić-Sas is a British-Serb LGBTQ+ activist, musician, drag queen and Eastern Orthodox Theologian. Their work focuses on the intersection of the LGBTQ+ community and Orthodox Christian theology, history and identity - particularly within Serbia and the Balkans. Over the past 10 years they have participated in some of the largest conferences in the Orthodox Church on queer and trans rights, published multiple works on the subject and has even been sued by the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church for carrying a rainbow icon of the Mother of God at Belgrade Pride 2019.

Queerness and Faith | Between Tradition and Resistance

LGBT+ individuals in Serbia often face a painful dilemma, caught between their religious beliefs and their sexual identities. In the Serbian context, the Serbian Orthodox Church plays a significant role in deepening this divide, with priests frequently participating in anti-LGBT+ parades and labelling the community as sinners, thereby fueling widespread anti-LGBT+ sentiment. For those raised within this faith tradition, reconciling their spiritual beliefs with their sexual orientation often demands a profound journey of re-examination, seeking love and acceptance outside the rigid boundaries of "tradition."

Intro music: North-Albanian Instrumental.

Interlude: Kondorov Let - Fejat Sejdić

For many people in the Balkans, where Islam, the Christian Orthodox tradition, and Catholicism coexist, New Year's Eve is the defining end-of-year celebration.

In Albania, the Christmas tree is called 'Bredhi, but it's not necessarily tied to Christmas- it's a symbol of New Year's festivities, a sentiment shared across much of the region.

For members of the Balkan diaspora, celebrating New Year's Eve in their host countries often stirs a mix of emotions: a blend of longing, nostalgia, and joyful celebration. These are bittersweet moments, filled with reflections on the past year and hope for the future.

In this episode of Diasporas Speaking, I invited fellow members of the Balkan diaspora to share their most memorable New Year's Eve celebrations- stories that reveal the unique ways they preserve family bonds, embrace their heritage, and look forward to new beginnings.

In this episode, we will hear from Aida Demorovié-Krebs, Arbër Qerka-Gashi Bernarda Radoncic, Fjolla Bunjaku, Ivana Alfonso, Leonarda Demolli, Leonita Galica, Semsa Salioski, and Vesa Maxhuni.

Intor music: North-Albanian instrumental.

Interludes: Vellezerit Aliu - 'Valle Instrumentale'.

In this episode, Irina Janakievska joins us to share her diaspora story, speak about her debut cookbook “The Balkan Kitchen” and explore food traditions in the Balkans and their transformation beyond.

From childhood, we become immersed in culinary traditions, where food choices shape and reinforce our social identities.

In the diaspora, the act of "food travelling" - preparing, sharing, and consuming Balkan food - fulfils not only physical needs but also deep psychological ones. Food becomes a bridge to memory, evoking personal and collective experiences, whether through a cherished family recipe or the preparation of a particular dish.

However, as we cross borders and adapt to new environments, these culinary traditions evolve, taking on hybrid forms that reflect encounters with other food cultures, unraveling shared connections.

Irina Janakievska is a Macedonian-British writer and recipe developer. Irina was born in Skopje, North Macedonia but grew up in Kuwait from the late 1980s onwards.In 2001, she moved to London to complete her undergraduate and master's degrees at the London School of Economics in international relations and history. After university, a large corporate law firm sponsored her through law school, and Irina became a solicitor.

In 2020, Irina left her successful career in corporate and finance law to follow her passion for sharing her love of Balkan cuisine, the Balkans and its people with the world. Irina completed her culinary training at Leiths School of Food and Wine.

She has contributed to the Guardian, Foodnetwork US, Whetstone Magazine, Mediterranean Lifestyle Magazine, Pit Magazine, and Balkanism, among others.

Her debut cookbook, “The Balkan Kitchen,” was shortlisted for the Jane Grigson Trust Award in 2023 and published in October 2024 (by Hardie Grant/Quadrille).

Irina lives in South London with her husband and young son. She cooks, researches, and writes about Balkan history, food culture, and culinary traditions.

Intro music: North-Albanian Instrumental

Interlude: Jasno Sonce - 'Zajdi, Zajdi'

Having lost the right to a cultural archive through colonisation, folklore, which in Kosovo had traditionally served as an instrument to reiterate history, played a crucial role in maintaining and producing a common cultural identity. Reverberating around Serbian oppression and consequently the ensuing immigration during the 1990s, the imaginary distributed through popular culture articulated in the experience of many Kosovar-Albanian migrants and refugees. Popular culture with and beyond nationalist narratives served to develop a diaspora consciousness, allowing for a peculiar continuance - traversing the territorial borders between Kosovo and the diaspora. In this episode, we are joined by Arbnora Selmani to discuss how popular culture, infused with nationalist and feminist empowering tones shaped the consciousness of the diaspora during the 1990s and beyond. Arbnora Selmani is a Kosovar-British writer from London. She is arts editor at Porridge magazine and works in scientific publishing by day. Portraits, her debut pamphlet, was published by Lumin in 2018.

Addendum for minutes 0:27 to 00:32 in reference to Dj Gimi O's adaptation of 'Ani mori nuse' - the traditional lyric in Nexhmije Pagarusha's rendition of Ani More Nuse adds an interesting layer to the discussion. Pagarusha's version, contrasts with Shkurte Fejza's interpretation, which reflects societal preoccupations with the romantic and sexual relationships of Albanian women in the diaspora. Notably, Fejza's lyrics emphasise the importance of having an Albanian husband—something that would not be necessary to specify for a woman living within Kosovo. This emphasis subtly reinforces social norms and dictates what is considered acceptable. By contrast, DJ Gimi O's, a diaspora artist, version of the song flips Shkurte Ferjza's lyrics, reverting back to the original text. In doing so, it deconstructs Fejza's nationalist framework, undoing some of the implicit social dictation present in earlier versions. Intro music: North-Albanian Instrumental. Interludes in order of rendition: Shkurte Fejza - 'Xhamadani vija, vija'; Shkurte Fejza - 'Mbahu nene e mos ke frike'; Shkurte Fejza - 'E kam emrin Kosovar'; Adelina Ismaili - 'Amaneti'; Adelina Ismaili - 'Ushtrine time do ta bej me Ibrahim Rugoven'; Shyhrete & Engjellusha Behluli - 'Nuse Kosovare'; DJ Gimi O - 'Ani mori nuse'.

The experiences of women who migrated from Kosovo to the West during the 1990s or earlier remain largely unaddressed or marginalised in current Kosovar-Albanian migration narratives.

With this in mind, we will begin periodic conversations with the generation of women who moved to the diaspora with their families or claimed asylum on their own.

To begin this series, I interviewed my mother, Ilirjetë Agushi-Kqiku, to share her perspective on migration and the significance of leaving Kosovo with three children, undertaking a three-week journey while pregnant, to shed light on how this experience has shaped Ilirjetë’s life to this day.

lirjetë Agushi-Kqiku will be our guest for the episode: 'Silent(ced) Mothers and Women'

Ilirjetë Agushi-Kqiku was born in Gjilan, Kosovo, where she completed her A-Levels and attended a teacher training school, as it was known in former Yugoslavia.

At the age of 32, together with her husband and children, Ilirjetë moved to Augsburg, Germany, where she now lives and works in gastronomy.Ilirjete speaks Albanian, German, French, and Bosnian/ Croatian/Serbian.

Intro music: North-Albanian Instrumental

Interlude: Muharrem Qena, 'Mallëngjimi'.

Contemporary Albanian identities in both digital and offline spaces are deeply influenced by legacies of war, colonialism, tradition, and modernity.

Over the past decade, Albanian social media has increasingly become a platform where heteronormative norms are performed, casting Albanian identity through a heteronationalist lens focused on national heroes and the flag.

This idealisation of heteronormative lifestyles reinforces binary notions of gender and sexuality, with digital hetero-activists defending a narrow vision of Albanian identity.

An approach that often leads to online hate and violence against marginalised communities and anyone who challenges these norms.

However, digital spaces also serve as empowering sites for LGBT + and feminist groups to cultivate their own politics and narratives.

These spaces underscore the importance of celebrating LGBT+ and women's histories beyond the constraints of heteronormativity and patriarchy.

In this episode, we will speak to Kairo Urovi, Fjolla and Arber Qerka-Gashi about their work, activism and experiences -- to explore how heteronormativity and nationalism intersect in Kosovar-Albanian social media and digital spaces.

Intro music: North-Albanian Instrumental.

Breaker music: Adelina Ismaili - 'Amaneti' (no copyright issues found through YouTube check).

BONUS Episode: In response to the current narratives about Albanian women and men in Switzerland, I teamed up with Swiss-Albanian feminists to create this bonus episode, delving deeper into the issues of gender-based violence beyond the attention-grabbing headlines.

Globally, one in three women will face gender-based violence, often from a partner, former partner, or family member.

In the context of migration, these experiences are frequently compounded by racism, as non-native cultures are often portrayed as inherently "violent". This narrative implies that gender-based violence is problem introduced by migrant communities. A similar pattern can be seen in Switzerland, where current discussions blending feminism with cultural racism often attribute violence against women to particular cultures in this case, targeting Albanian women and men.

These narratives often glorify "Western values" and co-opt the language of emancipation to fuel anti immigration sentiments. Migrant men are frequently depicted as inherently violent, while Albanian women are portrayed as either exotic and hypersexualised or as helpless victims.

However, it is essential to recognise that gender-based violence is as present in Swiss society as in any other. It is not limited to specific cultures but is a global issue that transcends borders. The focus should be on dismantling existing hierarchies of violence, rather than creating new ones, as we work towards its eradication.

Guests

Blertë Berisha, Executive Manager of the Umbrella Organisations of Women's Shelters in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

From a young age, Blertë became aware of the injustices around her. After Albanian was banned in Kosovo schools in the 1990s, her aunt and other teachers secretly taught children, and soon after, Blertë’s family sought refuge in Switzerland.

Growing up in Kosovo and Switzerland, resistance and protest shaped her thinking. Even in Switzerland, during the Kosovo conflict, she wasn’t allowed to speak Albanian at school.

As a young adult, Blertë worked in various jobs including cleaning apartments for affluent clients and providing care for the elderly in residential homes, while studying politics, ethnology, and history, eventually becoming a trained victim support specialist. 

With years of experience in women’s shelters, she is the Executive Manager of the Umbrella Organisation of Women’s Shelters in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Dachorganisation der Frauenhäuser (DAO) addressing domestic and gender-based violence. 

As a feminist and anti-racist advocate, Blertë uses an intersectional approach to dismantle patriarchal structures and tackle the root causes of discrimination and violence.

Arbnora Aliu, PhD candidate and Lecturer in Education at the University of Zurich

Arbnora was born and raised in Zürich. Her parents immigrated from Strugë, North Macedonia, and chose Switzerland as their second home.

She completed her Master’s degree in Education and is currently finishing her PhD at the University of Zurich. As a lecturer, she works at the University of Teacher Education at FHNW, with a focus on inclusion.

As one of three daughters, she was introduced to feminist topics early on by her parents and continued to engage with them by reading, discussing in her communities, and expressing her critical and reflective thoughts on the online magazine tsri.ch.