The Albanian Student Association executive board pictured together celebrating 113 years of Albanian Independence. ELENI MAZIJA / COURTESY
Laili Shahrestani, Features Editor
On Nov. 12, the Albanian Student Association at Manhattan University held their annual Independence Day event in Smith Auditorium, celebrating 113 years of Albanian independence. This year marked the fourth time the celebration has been held on campus, gathering over 140 attendees to an evening filled with music, dancing, food, speeches and Albanian culture.
Albania first gained its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912. Over a century later, many Albanians today honor the holiday by acknowledging the fight for independence as a lasting symbol of strength, resilience and victory, as well as partaking in celebratory events.
Eleni Mazija ‘25, the founder of the Albanian Student Association, shared a little about what her country’s independence means to her, and what makes the day so special.
“Albanian Independence Day represents the hardships our ancestors endured so that we could have a free country, and it reminds me of the strength and resilience woven into our history,” Mazija wrote in an email to The Quadrangle. “As someone who left the small town of Suka Dajçit, Shkodër [Albania] at age six, it connects me deeply to my roots and to the sacrifices my parents made … 16 years later in America, I carry their courage with me, and I feel proud seeing how far Albanians around the world have come.”
Lukas Gojcaj, a junior and the president of the Albanian Student Association, added onto Mazija’s point, emphasizing how Independence Day serves as a day of remembrance for the Albanians who took part in the fight for independence many years ago.
“I always viewed this day as a celebration of all the hard work and perseverance that the Albanian people went through,” Gojcaj said. “They had to fight very hard for their independence, and even after they won it, they still had to fight really hard to maintain it.”
The Albanian Independence Day celebration served as a charity event, donating 100% of their proceeds to the Open Hand Association. Mazija highlighted how it felt rewarding to know all of the profits earned that evening would go toward a good cause.
“This was a mission-based event, with 100% of our profits being donated to the Open Hand Association in the Bronx – a food pantry that provides food, clothing, wheelchairs and essential supplies to people in need,” Mazija wrote in an email. “Knowing our celebration could also give back to the community made the entire process even more fulfilling.”
Kristina Camaj, a senior and the vice president of the Albanian Student Association spoke more about how the event was mission-based, and had a goal to help people in need.
“We raised around $1,000, which all went toward the charity … they have food pantries, fundraisers and basically just help out people in need,” Camaj said. “The president of the charity also gave a speech, thanking our board members for being kind enough to raise money for the charity … it made all of the effort we put in worth it.”
At the event, both Albanian and non-Albanian students came together to celebrate. The event was open to individuals from all backgrounds to come learn more about Albania’s heritage, and engage in some of their cultural practices.
Mazija spoke to this, explaining how her goal was to foster a welcoming environment for all, encouraging non-Albanian students to experience a bit of Albanian culture.
“The traditional music, dancing and food created an authentic, welcoming environment that allowed everyone, not just Albanians, to experience the beauty of our culture,” Majiza wrote. “Albanians are known for our hospitality, and we wanted to incorporate that same warmth by welcoming people the way we would in our own homes.”
Mazija highlighted the importance of hospitality in Albanian culture and the value of welcoming in non-Albanians by sharing a traditional Albanian quote.
“I want to highlight a saying that reflects the heart of who we are as Albanians – ‘Shtëpia e shqiptarit është e Zotit dhe e mikut,’” Mazija wrote. “This saying represents one of our most cherished values – that an Albanian’s home is always open to God and to every guest who enters with respect … We want everyone to feel the warmth Albanians are known for.”
Throughout the night, traditional dances were performed, ILSI Ademi [an Albanian music artist] sang, speeches were conducted and cultural food was served. Jorgesti Preldakaj, a sophomore and the secretary of the Albanian Student Association, emphasized how the event emulated the feeling of what it truly means to be Albanian.
“Being born and raised in Albania, this day means a lot to me,” Preldakaj said. “It reminds me of home, our history and the pride that shaped who I am. The music, dancing, food and overall energy of the room really brought our culture to life, and gave everyone a true taste of what being Albanian feels like.”
At one point throughout the night, both Albanian and non-Albanian students joined together to carry out a traditional Albanian dance. Mazija mentioned how this moment felt incredibly meaningful to her, representing unity and a blending of cultures.
“We opened the floor to music, food and traditional Albanian dancing, which filled the room with so much joy and unity,” Mazija wrote. “Watching Albanian and non-Albanian students later join hands in the valle [an Albanian folk dance] felt like a beautiful celebration of culture, community and the growth of everything we’ve built.”
With such a huge turnout, members of the Albanian Student Association explained how several other Albanian Clubs around the Tri-state area made the trip over to the Manhattan University campus to celebrate with the greater community.
Gojcaj spoke to this, emphasizing how Albanians like to always show up for one another.
“Us Albanians are very supportive of each other,” Gojcaj said. “A lot of the people that were there were not from Manhattan University, and actually traveled pretty far to get here. It meant a lot to see how much Albanians mean to one another.”
Camaj expanded on this point, mentioning how she met a number of new people from all the different clubs that made an appearance.
“I met some new people because Fordham’s Albanian Club was there, and so was Seton Hall from New Jersey and even some people from Iona,” Camaj said. “So it felt really uniting, because we also make connections across other schools as well.”
Given the scale of the event, weeks of extensive planning took place. Mazija shared a bit about the heavy preparation that went into the process, and how she feels proud that the club she founded has put in so much effort.
“Putting together an event this large took weeks of coordination, from lining up performers to managing logistics with campus partners, and our team worked with so much passion and pride,” Majiza wrote. “As the club’s founder, it was incredibly meaningful to see something I started in 2022 grow into an event that brings the entire campus together.”
While the celebration took weeks of preparation to carry out, Camaj emphasized how in the end, it was all worth it.
“We all put in a lot of effort and everyone in the club did their part, which made it all feel worth it at the end,” Camaj said.