When a radio turns 35, isn’t it in the prime of its youth?

Announcement
We have the honor to inform all compatriots that on Sunday, February 23, 1986, the first radio show in the Albanian language will begin. The show in question is broadcast every Sunday from three to four in the afternoon on FM 101.8 meters.
Echo of Shqipe editorial office

In the archives of the radio “Jehona e Shqipes” in Brussels, the flyer that informed the entire Albanian community that a radio would broadcast for the first time in the Albanian language is still preserved. Before it seems strange to you, move the reality from the present day when dozens of media and communication channels are opened and closed and take it here 35 years ago, in Belgium, where a large group of Albanians who had escaped communism, did not they had no means of communication with the country they had left, no means of contact, no news (good or bad) came to them in time, no voice united them in emigration. That’s why even that small “Echo” that was created by a small handful of people was like a source of water in all the informational drought of those times and like a connecting thread for a community that could not have a voice in this country of Europe.

Who was this bunch of people? The first Sakip Skepi, who gathered Idriz Basha with his wife Kimete Basha, Durak Durak, Ali Islamaj, Avni Islamaj, Naim Lika, Gani Sheta, a group of intellectual Albanians, who aimed to make the voice of Albanians heard in a way organized, to be a point of contact in the Albanian-speaking world, in the absence of an Albanian embassy in Belgium. To be a point of reference for anyone who wanted information about Albanians and most important of all was a way for Albanian political refugees to make their independent contribution to the national issue of establishing democracy in Albania.

History showed a few years later that this community that created the only radio program in Western Europe, which was founded before the fall of the Berlin Wall by young people from the land of eagles who opposed the communist regime in Tirana and grew up in exile, became really a strong voice and a great push for changes and the new wind that would blow in Albania.

Kolë Gjeloshaj, responsible for the culture column on Radio Jehona e Shqipes since 2000 and one of the best connoisseurs of the history of this medium so important for the Albanians of Belgium, analyzes this initiative as a willingness to demonstrate the ability of the members of the anti-communist diaspora to organize and make their voices heard in a credible way to draw attention to the plight of Albania and Albanians. But also as a willingness to bring to the attention of members of the Albanian community general information (not only about the area of Albanian settlements) in the Albanian language. At that time, many people did not have sufficient knowledge of the Albanian language. That’s why this radio had so many missions that it carried out all of them one by one, year after year: information, protest, manifestation, influence. Because a radio can really manage to make history. At least “Jehona e Shqipes” has made and witnessed a whole generation of immigrants not only from Belgium, but in the four corners of the world, who to this day follow the tradition of listening to “Jehona” every Sunday.

But Albania is no longer what it was in the 60s, nor what it was in the 90s, much less Europe. Immigrants are no longer the same, and so are interests. There is a new generation born in Europe and there are other waves of immigration coming from Albania. Do you think the radio in this new reality that runs at 100 per hour has remained the same? Not at all. It has also taken on new forms, adapted and changed at an incredible pace. Are we living in the age of social media, of Instagram, of Facebook? No problem. Look for “Jehona e Shqipe” there as well. Are there young professionals, contemporary moderation? No problem. For almost 5 years, Sakip Skepi, who alone kept the radio, financing it from the first day, without missing a single Sunday at the microphone, has been joined by journalist Ledia Canaj, who has brought new spirit, energy, rhythm and has connected the threads of the past with the present. Now the radio has another mission: information, promotion, current affairs, culture, direct links, guests, activities, support and of course strictly Albanian music.

If you only knew how many personalities have spoken on that microphone and who in Albania may not even have heard their names as part of the diaspora: painters, writers, artists, actors, lawyers, engineers, doctors, young talents, young immigrants, children of older immigrants. For example, you all know Gala Aliaj. But before you knew him because he won “The Voice of Belgium”, many Albanians of the diaspora have known him years ago from the radio waves of “Jehona e Shqipes”. Ismail and Elena Kadare continue to maintain regular correspondence with the radio. Journalists such as Mentor Kikia, Mentor Nazarko, Aleksandër Çipa and many others, inform every week from Albania of the news of the week. Kolë Gjeloshaj collects publications by Albanian authors from all over the world and promotes them at “Jehona”. The group of successful Albanians in Belgium who created “Albanian Tales and Legends” presented their project to Albanians on the radio. The Balkan Trafic Festival has come into contact with the Albanian folk music through “Jehona”, integrating Albanian folk music groups into its annual program. Every Sunday you can listen to authentic Albanian material, which you cannot find anywhere else. Polyphonic music and couplets, news and conversation and above all such a great love for Albania. It’s such a vibrant community that you can’t find anywhere else. Every Sunday you can listen to authentic Albanian material, which you cannot find anywhere else. Polyphonic music and couplets, news and conversation and above all such a great love for Albania. It’s such a vibrant community that you can’t find anywhere else. Every Sunday you can listen to authentic Albanian material, which you cannot find anywhere else. Polyphonic music and couplets, news and conversation and above all such a great love for Albania. It’s such a vibrant community that you can’t find anywhere else.

Ledja Canaj and Sakip Skepi are not at all afraid of the future, of the competition that is made to the classical media day by day. They are quiet on their Sundays, because they have no intention of declaring war on the contemporary. They have learned to adapt, but without making pacts with the change of identity. Because they have proven that the Albanian identity is the essence that does not change, it is the marrow and it is proof that Europe accepts you with your identity, especially with your identity. Albanian children who were born and are growing up far from Albania will attend schools and universities, will integrate and become part of another country, but they will always have a sweet voice that comes to them every Sunday and is called “Echo of Albania”.