As I sit down to reflect, I find myself self-critical. I, too, bear a peculiar name with origins rooted in the Arabic-Hebrew linguistic realm. That's how my father christened me when I was born in 1969. On that occasion, overwhelmed with joy at the blessing of a son bestowed upon him by the Almighty, he invited the local imam to conduct the religious ceremony of baptism. Nobody has ever asked me about my baptismal name, just as nobody has asked the overwhelming majority of Albanians. Across generations, names of foreign Eastern origin abound. And this fact is troubling!
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| By Zekerija Idrizi – Excerpt from his book "Monologue" |
Strangely, foreign cultures have exerted an extraordinary influence on our sphere of identity, customs, culture, and ancient Illyrian-Dardanian-Albanian civilization. Consequently, they have also influenced the naming of newborns. Mainly, in dominance, Catholic Christianity influenced Latin-Italian names; Orthodox Christianity influenced Greek-Hellenic names, while Islam influenced Arabic-Persian-Turkish names. The Roman-Byzantine, Slavic, and Ottoman-Turkish dominions played their part in acculturating and internationalizing the Albanians culturally. Thus, these empires eroded and subjugated our customs and traditions, as well as altered our anthroponyms and toponyms in their favor.
Thanks to the rise of national consciousness, which has gained momentum among young Albanian generations in recent decades, parents are baptizing their children with names of Illyrian-Dardanian-Albanian origin. And this fact fills us with immense joy. The beautiful and meaningful meanings of Albanian names positively influence the national and human consciousness of our youth. Thus, we demonstrate a high respect and admiration for our language, culture, and national great personalities. Simultaneously, this halts the tendencies of acculturation and denationalization within our families and society.
In this regard, the change of toponyms of our cities and villages from names of Slavic-Turkish origin to Albanian names is also to be welcomed.
A major national duty for us today is to thoroughly and integrally Albanianize our names, customs, traditions, toponyms, and our entire cultural-civilizational values. Why not, we should significantly Albanianize our religious customs as well, adapting them to our customary code, without touching the substance of the canonized Christian and Islamic doctrines.
These are inherent elements that continuously testify, through centuries and generations, to the ancient, authentic, and autochthonous nature of our Illyrian-Dardanian-Albanian national identity in the Illyrian Peninsula.
Deep respect and consideration for all those Albanian parents who show responsibility, diligence, and vigilance in preserving and cultivating our authentic Arberian identity, culture, and civilization!