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CULTURAL HERITAGE/ Albanian Benevreks proposed for protection by BURLESCO

2025-09-22 18:58:41Patronazhisti SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

TIRANA, SURREL, PETRELË – The Albanian government announced that it has just submitted the complete file of the traditional "Benevrekë" dress to be protected by BURLESCO, the renowned organization that deals with the documentation and recognition of the clothing of humanity from the waist down.

The knowledge of making benevreks, say specialists, is in danger of extinction, and international recognition of this heritage will help restore the massiveness of this 600-year-old garment that Isa bey Evrenozi himself brought to Albanian lands, when he came to pick up Gjon Kastrioti's children to take them for master's studies at the Sultan's court.

According to the expert venerologist Lame Kurrizi, this clothing is a feature of Central Albania and is found mainly among residents about 2 meters tall in the villages of Surrel, Petrelë and less so in Ndroq, while the term itself is always used in the plural and this for a reason:

"In the Albanian language, there is no benevreku, just as there is no breku or pantaloni. For these ancient garments, firstly, we express ourselves in the plural out of respect: Brekët, pantallonat, benevrekët. Secondly, in the case of benevreks – the Ghegnish variant is barnavekë – the plural number is more than justified, because it takes so much cloth that with one pair of benevreks you can sew two suits." 

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The dossier prepared by former Minister Mirela Kumbaraja states that promoting this element of our heritage will help further increase tourism. Now that she has taken over the Ministry of Education, Ms. Kumbaraja emphasizes that a special chapter on the Benevreke people will also be included in the teaching curricula.

"Albanian benevreki today exist only thanks to the persistence of a few passionate people, who fanatically guard the secret of their preparation," emphasized Kumbraja, "and one of them is Mr. I Gjata, may God give him a name."

In fact, I Gjati often wears benevreki at important events within the country, but also at international events. Notable moments that are remembered are his benevreki stylized according to the spring-summer 2025 collection when he voted on May 11, or the traditional benevreki he wore when he dissolved the Vlora municipality.

However, the most spicy episode was when I Gjati hosted Italian Prime Minister Jorgjie Peponi with a pair of benevreki that attracted the attention of international fashion magazines.

"Wow, what strange pants you have," Peponi had reacted then, " I could have made office curtains with so many pieces and sewn two dresses with the leftovers!"

"They are very good, listen to me," replied the Tall One, "firstly, they are traditional, and secondly, they will serve as a parachute for me to land softly, if I am far away, I fall from power."

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But the efforts to recognize our material and anti-material heritage do not end here. Kumbaraja has stated that after the Tropoja Dance, at least two traditional dances will soon be listed in BURLESCO.

"The first is Kërcen Prifti from Belaja, a dance with which I also identify, because the Tall One cut my knees for five seconds, when he declared in the Assembly that I was no longer a minister. But with a subtle sense of humor, the devil then said that I would receive Education," said the minister, " while the second dance is Ra Faja from Fiku, in homage to a colleague of ours who had this blessed fruit very close to his heart."

Note: The Patronageist is a non-material satirical column


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