Diasporas Speaking

For many people in the Balkans, where Islam, the Christian Orthodox tradition, and Catholicism coexist, New Year's Eve is the defining end-of-year celebration. In Albania, the Christmas tree is called 'Bredhi, but it's not necessarily tied to Christmas- it's a symbol of New Year's festivities, a sentiment shared across much of the region. For members of the Balkan diaspora, celebrating New Year's Eve in their host countries often stirs a mix of emotions: a blend of longing, nostalgia, and joyful celebration. These are bittersweet moments, filled with reflections on the past year and hope for the future. In this episode of Diasporas Speaking, I invited fellow members of the Balkan diaspora to share their most memorable New Year's Eve celebrations- stories that reveal the unique ways they preserve family bonds, embrace their heritage, and look forward to new beginnings. In this episode, we will hear from Aida Demorovié-Krebs, Arbër Qerka-Gashi Bernarda Radoncic, Fjolla Bunjaku, Ivana Alfonso, Leonarda Demolli, Leonita Galica, Semsa Salioski, and Vesa Maxhuni. Intor music: North-Albanian instrumental. Interludes: Vellezerit Aliu - 'Valle Instrumentale'.

Whilst the Kosovar-Albanian diaspora in Germany makes up the largest group of Kosovars abroad, in comparison to other countries where Kosovar-Albanians have migrated, most scholarship and discourse are concentrated on the 1990s migrants. In contrast to Turkish migrant workers, little attention has been given to Kosovar-Albanian guest workers and their families who migrated between the 1960s and the early 1980s. Their histories are often shelved under Yugoslav workers; however, Kosovar-Albanian migrant histories were also connoted to discrimination back home and the growing human rights abuses under the Yugoslav regime, thereby requiring particular attention. The individuals who moved to Germany were recruited due to post-war labour shortages and the booming industry that factored in Wiederaufbau (reconstruction). As such, the government expected recruited individuals to return, but many chose to stay, which is an often used sentence in German migration discourses and media. Despite living in Germany for almost five decades, these families and their children are still considered foreigners. Such designations do not only shape their relationship with Germany but also with Kosovo, as we have learned from literature that is more developed on Turkish Guestworker children - where ‘Tuerkisiert’ reappears as an imposition of the dominant culture. In this episode, we will be speaking with Vlorë Krug, who grew up in Germany as a child of a guestworker family during a time when Albanian communities were rare and whose experience provides us with a unique insight into Kosovar-Albanian guestworker lives in Germany. Vlorë is a skilled Change Manager and Organisational Developer who’s helped many companies navigate their digital transformations. She’s deeply committed to making workplaces more inclusive and equitable. Vlorë is passionate about using her voice on LinkedIn to address critical issues such as structural discrimination. Vlorë loves bringing people together when she's not working, whether by organising the first Tango Festival in Prishtina or leading Lean In Circles in Berlin. She lives with her German husband and her two sons in Berlin. Disclaimer: This episode is part of an effort to compile a digital diaspora archive documenting Kosovar-Albanian activism in the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s, which informs its focus and narrative. Intro music: North-Albanian Instrumental. Breaker music: Cem Karaca, 'Es kamen Menschen an'.