As part of the activities of the National Folklore Festival “Eshkë e ndezur mbi Shkëlzen,” a scientific roundtable titled “Preservation, cultivation, and promotion of folklore today through folklore festivals” is being held at the Youth Center in Decan.

The mayor of Decan, Bashkim Ramosaj, also took part in this scientific roundtable, saying that they warmly welcome the organization of this festival.

“Starting from yourself and how you would like a festival to be, there are two sides to the coin. Sometimes you ask why people do not welcome it with more enthusiasm, and everything comes to your mind. Or there is something deeper—what is the impact on younger generations, what is the dimension, and you say let’s gather everyone to see how to do it, whether to spend more budget or add some accessory to make it more attractive. When you dedicate yourself to something, it creates a gap and frustration. In the tourism sector, you cannot expect to have tourists without having something artisanal. We warmly welcome the organization of this festival. It is important to understand that when a generation stands up, sometimes you see people who abuse this. I am an advocate of natural rights, and I highly value the heritage that has come down from the Kanun, without wanting to use it today. Some men’s chambers where people also sang were a kind of institution. Our rhapsodists who sang about heroism, love, and life also came from these chambers. By thanking this time, we are Albanians who have not been assimilated, and we are intellectuals who brought the KLA, which is divine. I am an advocate of the idea that the taxes we pay to the state should be used for our customs,” Ramosaj said.

Researcher Faton Mehmetaj said that the title of this roundtable speaks volumes, where epic folklore, songs with the lahuta, and stage performances are preserved and cultivated.

Mehmetaj stated that these values of this region are a treasure passed down from generation to generation and must therefore be preserved like the apple of one’s eye.

Meanwhile, Professor Haki Mulliqi from the Faculty of Musical Arts at the University of Pristina said that one of the most important components of Albanian folklore is the traditional dance.

According to Mulliqi, dance is an artistic language that carries historical values, preserving and transmitting national identity.

The nationwide folklore festival “Eshkë e ndezur mbi Shkëlzen” was first organized in 2004.