Qamil Çami | |
|---|---|
 Çami,c. 1922 | |
| Born | (1875-01-04)January 4, 1875 |
| Died | September 26, 1933(1933-09-26) (aged 58) |
| Occupation | Writer, teacher |
| Literary movement | National Renaissance of Albania |
| Signature | |
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Qamil Izet Çami (January 4, 1875 – September 26, 1933) was anAlbanianrilindas, poet and teacher. He and other rilindas from his area opened the first Albanian-language school ofFiliates in 1908.
Çami was born inFiliates, then a town of theOttoman Empire on January 4, 1875. His surname references his family are fromÇamëria and areCham Albanians hence it being Çami. In his youth he became a member of the literary club of Albanian students ofIoannina. After graduating inIstanbul he was appointed minor prefect ofSagiada in 1905. In 1907 also starting working as a teacher in the Ottoman school of his town, Filiates and taught writtenAlbanian secretly. On August 25, 1908, along with otherrilindas opened the first Albanian-language school of Filiates and became its headmaster.[1][2] The funds were provided by the people of Filiates, such asMusa Demi,rilindas of the area and by other notableCham Albanians likeRasih Dino, son ofAbedin Dino.[1][2]
During theBalkan Wars, he was imprisoned inIoannina by theGreek army. He managed to escape after 10 months and went toVlorë. In 1917 he was appointed director of education of south-easternAlbania and was located inMoscopole. In 1920 theItalian army imprisoned him inSazan because he helped members of the Albanian independence movement. He was released from there after the end of theVlora War on August 4, 1920.[2] In 1922, after the proposal ofJani Minga to the Albanian government, Çami became prefect ofKonispol. From 1924 to 1927 he worked voluntarily as teacher of the Albanian language for theCham Albanian minority ofThesprotia, Greece (Çamëria), in the area ofParamythia.[1]
He died on September 26, 1933, inTirana. His poems were published after his death. He is considered one of the poets of the later era of theAlbanian National Revival.[3]