Shqiponjat () is a popular Italo-Albanian folk music group based in

Santa Sofia d'Epiro Santa Sofia d'Epiro () is an Arbëresh town and ''comune'' in the province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of southern Italy. The town is bordered by Acri, Bisignano Bisignano ( Calabrian: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Cose ...

Calabria Calabria is a Regions of Italy, region in Southern Italy. It is a peninsula bordered by the region Basilicata to the north, the Ionian Sea to the east, the Strait of Messina to the southwest, which separates it from Sicily, and the Tyrrhenian S ...

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

History

The folk group was born on initiative of 12 girls in a small town of Albanian origin (''

Arbëreshë Arbën/Arbër, from which derived Arbënesh/Arbëresh originally meant all Albanians, until the 18th century. Today it is used for different groups of Albanian origin, including: * Arbër (given name), an Albanian masculine given name *Arbëres ...

'') called Santa Sofia D’Epiro in the spring of 1994, and became a cultural association 10 years later.Chi siamo
/ref> In accordance with the emblem (

two-headed eagle The double-headed eagle is an iconographic symbol originating in the Bronze Age. The earliest predecessors of the symbol can be found in Mycenaean Greece and in the Ancient Near East, especially in Mesopotamian and Hittite iconography. Most mo ...

) of the homeland of their ancestors (

Albania Albania ( ; or ), officially the Republic of Albania (), is a country in Southeast Europe. It is located in the Balkans, on the Adriatic Sea, Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea, and shares land borders with Montenegro to ...

), they chose the name ''Shqiponjat'' which means eagles. (See also: Arbëreshë people#Early migrations) Over the years, the number of members has grown, and today includes 30 female dancers, aged 12 to 30 years, and an orchestra of 7 male musicians. The group's goal is to keep the ancient arbëreshë values and the traditions, included songs and costumes alive. The 'Eagles' (Shqiponjat) perform with a formation composed only by women. From ancient manuscripts and the oral tradition, it appears that, at the time of the Ottoman invasion in Albania, women – in addition to the family hearth - were dancing and singing to honor their husbands returning from battle.

Music repertoire

Shows offered by Shqiponjat represent the long journey that their ancestors had undertaken from the faraway Albanian coast to reach the

territory in Italy at the end of the 15th century. In addition to the typical dances of the Albanian capital

Tirana Tirana ( , ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in Albania, largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills, with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest ov ...

, there are those of

Kosovo Kosovo, officially the Republic of Kosovo, is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe with International recognition of Kosovo, partial diplomatic recognition. It is bordered by Albania to the southwest, Montenegro to the west, Serbia to the ...

, in honor of the Albanian national hero,

Skanderbeg Gjergj Kastrioti (17 January 1468), commonly known as Skanderbeg, was an Albanians, Albanian Albanian nobility, feudal lord and military commander who led Skanderbeg's rebellion, a rebellion against the Ottoman Empire in what is today Albania, ...

and those of the northern and southern Albanian regions. Regarding the arbëreshe tradition, there are dances linked to the traditional “Vallja” (), to the cycle of seasons or to the theme of love and nostalgia. The arbëresh repertory includes the ancient traditional rhymed and often improvised songs, called “vjershë” (poem), performed without musical accompaniment, sung only by double or triple voices.

Exhibitions

Works developed by Shqiponjat are orientated to recover the origins of history as well as the Albanian culture, but, more than anything else, it wants to be a sort of “spiritual heredity”, or simply, a good reason to re-live a past still inside them, giving strength, at the same time, to the sense of belonging to the same community with their roots in the past and their wings towards the future.Shqiponjat: 1994 - 2009
/ref> The originality, serious work of research, and the skill of the artists, allowed the group to obtain prizes and awards not only in Italy and abroad, where often the group was called to represent the Italian-Albanian minority. For more than 20 years of activity the group, has constantly taken part in a lot of local, regional and national folkloric events. *In 2003, the group participated at Eurofestival Mediterraneo (Mediterranean Euro Festivals) in

San Cosmo Albanese San Cosmo Albanese (; Calabrian: ) is a village and ''comune'' in the province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of southern Italy. In the territory of the current village a tiny rural settlement called Santo Cosma, formerly dependent on the loca ...

and was named the best Arbëreshgroup with its theatrical representation of “Java Nusses” (the week of the bride). * In 2004, for the 10th anniversary from the foundation, the group decided to organize in Santa Sofia d'Epiro a ''two day'' show of the recovery of their traditions called “Moti ç’ ish në herë” (as it once was). *In 2005, the group participated in Santa Sofia d'Epiro at the traditional arbëreshë olympic games “Lumi bashkë” (“Let’s play together”). *In 2006, the ‘Eagles’ (Shqiponjat) fly to Albania to take part in the international folkloric festival “Vlore 2006” in

Vlorë Vlorë ( ; ; sq-definite, Vlora) is the List of cities and towns in Albania, third most populous city of Albania and seat of Vlorë County and Vlorë Municipality. Located in southwestern Albania, Vlorë sprawls on the Bay of Vlorë and is surr ...

*in 2007, they participated at the ''Festival Mesdhetar'' in Valona and *in 2008, two young Arbreshë lovers, Thanasi and Anmaria, are the protagonists of the theatrical representation ''Një Spingullanele Ari'' held between the characteristic districts (''gjitonia'') of Santa Sophia d'Epiro *in September 2008, the ‘Eagles’ took part at the festival of Gjirokastër “Argjiro 2008” in Argirocastro in South Albania *In 2011, they fly to Wilstedt, in

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

, called there to represent the Italian Arbëria.13. Olivenöl-Abholtage 2011
/ref>

Photo gallery

Arbëreshe costume (Santa Sofia d'Epiro)0.png, Arbëreshe costume (Santa Sofia d'Epiro)01.png, Arbëreshe costume (Santa Sofia d'Epiro)02.png, Arbëreshe costume (Santa Sofia d'Epiro)03.png, Arbëreshe costume (Santa Sofia d'Epiro)04.png, Arbëreshe costume (Santa Sofia d'Epiro)05.png, Arbëreshe costume (Santa Sofia d'Epiro)06.png,

External links

Official Website''Shqipet''
played by Shqiponjat musicians
The Shqiponjat children
Bukuria Arbëreshë (Arbëreshë Beauties) in

Cosenza Cosenza (; Languages of Calabria#Northern Calabrian (Cosentian), Cosentian: ''Cusenza'', ) is a city located in Calabria, Italy. The city centre has a population of approximately 70,000, while the urban area counts more than 200,000 inhabitants. ...

, May 21, 2017

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shqiponjat Italian folk music groups Arbëreshë folk groups