Muhamet Tartari

Who is Muhamet Tartari?

Muhamet Tartari is a poet and bard of Labëria region, Vlora district, Albania. He was born in 1949 in Vranisht. He completed the “7-year- school” in his hometown and then graduated with excellent results from high school, "Halim Xhelo" in Vlora. After two years as a volunteer teacher in the north of Albania he begins studies for History and Geography at Luigj Gurakuqi University in Shkodra.

He worked initially as a teacher. Later, he was involved in research on Albanian folklore and song and especially the tradition of Labëria, known for the ancient polyphony. Muhamet Tartari was elected leader of the group and director of Culture House in Vranisht. Vranishtit Group, one of the most famous in Albania, was awarded with the prize “Europe for Protection of Folklore” in 1986 by the German Alfred Toepfer Foundation. The group has participated in folk festivals and competitions in Gjirokastra and in other national and international festivals.

The group performs with the well-known song-dance "Cili je ti more burre" in the tribute of the founder and first prime minister of Albania Ismail Qemali, and that was the sound track of the film "November the Second". Muhamet Tartari led the group of Vranisht in international performance in Germany, Italy and France. Muhamet Tartari held several dozen presentations and papers at national and international conferences on folklore and popular culture of Labëria area. He has collaborated with the great bard and poets as Lefter Çipa, Maliq Lila, Feti Brahimi and maestros like Haxhi Dalipi. He published a volume of poetry and song, titled "Dance of Lightning". He is married to Mrs. Ferzilete Tartari, and is the father of three children.