Rifat Kukaj facts for kids

Rifat Kukaj (born October 25, 1938 – died September 11, 2005) was a very successful writer from Kosovo. He wrote many books for both grown-ups and children in the Albanian language. He is especially known for his wonderful stories and poems for young readers.

About His Life

Rifat Kukaj was born in a place called Tërstenik, in the area of Drenas, which is in the Republic of Kosovo. He went to school in Drenica and later in Prishtina, the capital city.

For three years, he worked as a teacher in Drenica. After that, he moved to Radio Pristina. There, he became an editor for cultural programs, and he was especially in charge of shows for children. From 1975 onwards, he worked at a publishing house called "Rilindja." He was an editor there, focusing on books for children. Rifat Kukaj passed away at the age of 67, in the town of Ulqin, Montenegro.

His Amazing Books

Rifat Kukaj published more than forty books during his life! He wrote many different kinds of stories and poems.

Novels for Young Readers

Some of his most famous novels include:

• Bardhi e Mirushja
• Rrasa e zogut
• Shkrepi i diellit
• Lepuri me pesë këmbë
• Vjollca magjike
• Zogu i bardhë
• Kokërrmeli e pilivesa
• Gjeli në kuvertë
• Xhuxhi nga xhuxhishta

Wonderful Poems for Kids

Rifat Kukaj was especially loved for his poems written for children. Here are some of his poetry collections:

• Gjerdani i blertë
• Lejlekët në luhaja
• Vallja e kallinjve
• Deti u bëftë kos
• Çka fshin dhelpra me bisht
• Pshurrani i gjyshit
• Shtegu i laureshave
• Trimëritë e karkalecit
• Zogu i Lasgushit

Short Stories and Humor

He also wrote many collections of short stories, such as:

• Harmonika
• Përqafimet e njoma
• Rrëfenjëza
• Ujku me kamerë
• Djaloshi i zjarreve
• Elefanti që fluturonte

Rifat Kukaj was very well known for his special sense of humor. People saw him as a pioneer, meaning he was one of the first to bring a new kind of city humor into literature.

Films and Plays

Besides books, Rifat Kukaj also wrote more than thirty plays for radio and theater. He even wrote the scripts for these films:

• Lepuri me pesë këmbë (1982)
• Qesh e ngjesh (1982) (TV show)
• 2 plus (1981) (mini TV Series)
• Gëzuar viti i ri (1976) (TV show)
• Bujku (1973) (TV show)

He also helped bring books from other languages, like Slovenian and Serbo-Croatian, into Albanian by translating them.

Awards He Won

Rifat Kukaj won many important awards and prizes for his writing. Some of these include:

• "Ismajl Qemajl Vlora" from Vlorë, Albania
• "Oton Zhupaniçiç" from Ljubljana, Slovenia
• "Ivan Goran Kovaçiq" from Zagreb, Croatia
• "Neven" from Belgrade, Serbia
• "Zmaj" from Novi Sad, Serbia
• "Shpërblimi i dhjetorit" from Pristina, Kosovo
• "Shpërblimi i nëntorit" from Pristina, Kosovo
• "Ganimete Tërbeshi" from Pristina, Kosovo