Rexhep Voka

Rexhep Voka was a writer and scholar. A prominent activist in the Albanian National Awakening.

Rexhep Voka was born in Şipkovica, Kalkandelen (Present-day Tetovo). In 1868, Voka undertook religious studies in Istanbul where he worked as a professor after completing his education. Voka returned to Kalkandelen in 1895 where he became involved in the Albanian National Renaissance. in 1903, Voka was appointed Mufti of the Manastir Vilayet and founded the first Albanian theological college in Üsküb. In Monastir, before the Young Turk revolution, Voka started learning Albanian in Latin characters from Albanian Protestant missionaries. In 1905, Voka attended the Pan-Albanian Congress organized in Bucharest. Headed by Albert Ghica, attended by Ismail Qemali and deliberated with Bucharest's Albanian community, the congress discussed the Albanian issue.

Rexhep Voka was a member of Bashkimi (Unity) at the time of the Young Turk revolution. He printed an Albanian alphabet in Arabic script comprising forty-four letters. Tiranli Fazli then used this script to publish a thirty-two page grammar. Only one Albanian newspaper at the time ever appeared in Arabic script, and it lasted a brief period. Regardless of what script appeared, such material raised Albanian national consciousness.

Rexhep Voka was highly regarded among Albanians for his involvement with the Albanian National Awakening. He encouraged education and schooling for the Albanians and has a statue dedicated to him in his birthplace of Shipkovica.

Quote:

Njeriu pa din dhe dije të gjallë e sheh për të vdekur dije
A man without knowledge and faith is alive to your eyes, but dead to your soul