TIRANA, June 18 – Sami Frashëri passed away on June 18, 1904, after dedicating his life to the patriotic cause.
Frashëri was an intellectual, journalist, lexicographer, playwright, and one of the leading ideologues of the Albanian National Renaissance. He is widely regarded as one of the most prominent thinkers of Albanian nationalism. Following the example of his brothers, Abdyl and Naim Frashëri, he played an active role in the national movement.
Meanwhile, Frashëri led the first Albanian-language magazines, “Drita” (The Light) and “Dituria” (Knowledge), in Istanbul. From October 1879, he headed the Society for the Printing of Albanian Letters. His work contributed significantly to the promotion of the Albanian language and culture.
In addition, he authored more than 50 works in Albanian, Turkish, and Arabic. His publications include “Abetare e gjuhës shqipe” (Albanian Language Primer, 1886), “Shkronjtore e gjuhës shqipe” (Albanian Grammar, 1886), and “Kamus al Alam” (Dictionary of the World, 1889–1896), a Turkish encyclopedia.
Among his most influential works was “Shqipëria ç’ka qenë, ç’është e ç’do të bëhet” (Albania: What It Was, What It Is and What It Will Become), published in Bucharest in 1899. The book presented his views on the national question. It appeared without his name and later became the political manifesto of the Albanian national movement.
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