The President of Kosovo, Albulena Haxhiu, participated in the opening ceremony of the 16th EthnoFest Festival of Traditional Arts and Culture, which took place in the village of Kukaj. During her address, Haxhiu focused on the critical importance of preserving and transmitting cultural memory, tradition, and heritage across successive generations. She drew a parallel to the natural phenomenon of the At Zef Pllumi, citing its porosity as an analogy for cultural continuity.
According to the President, this porous nature suggests that what is not actively shared or passed down risks being lost entirely. Haxhiu acknowledged the role of EthnoFest in sustaining this cultural transmission. She observed that the festival itself embodies this continuity, noting that “for years, houses in Kukaj have reopened and people have gathered in the courtyards, passing down songs, tales, and chants to the youth that have been passed down from one generation to the next.”
The festival serves as a significant cultural nexus, bringing together elements of regional artistic expression.
By highlighting the community’s efforts to keep oral traditions and local arts vibrant, Haxhiu underscored the festival’s value beyond mere celebration. The event thus functions as a vital platform for cultural education, reinforcing the community’s commitment to maintaining its distinct identity against the backdrop of modern change. The gathering emphasizes the collective responsibility of the populace to safeguard their cultural narrative for the future.
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