Zaho Balili

**Zaho Balili** (October 3,1951-October 3,2001) was an Albanian poet, writer, rhapsodist and author of iso-polyphonic songs.

## Biography

**Early life and education**

Zaho Balili was born in Rexhin, Tepelenë on October 3, 1951. He completed elementary and high school education in Tepelenë. He began writing at a very young age and is the author of several volumes, including  _Drithërimet e pranverës_, _Paskan çelur manushaqet_,   _Brengat e shpirtit_, _Lot kurbeti,_ and _Kur dy zemra dashurohen_.

His songs have been performed by many iso-polyphony groups, such as the groups from Vlorë, Gjirokastër, and Tepelenë, with the main group being Hormova’s group, which he led in the 1980s. With this group, he won first prize at the Gjirokastër Folklore Festival in 1985 with the song _Flaka mbuloi fshanë_.

One of his most famous songs is _Balada e Nënës_ (Mother's Ballad), sung by the group from Vlorë in 1997. This song has been performed by many other singers. In 2001, he created the group _Lotë Kurbeti_ in Athens, which published three albums of his songs. During this period, he was also elected chairman of the patriotic association _Labëria_ in Athens, and chairman of the _Albanian Writers’ Association_ in Greece. He published several writings and poems in Athens' newspaper.

## Books

- **Paskan çelur manushaqet** – Poetry, published in (1997)
- **Drithërimet e pranverës** – Poetry, published in (1998)
- **Brengat e shpirtit** – Poetry, published in (2001)
- **Puth ballin tënd Shqipëri** – Poetry, published in (2002)
- **Lotë Kurbeti** – Poetry, published in (2003)
- **Kur dy zemra dashurohen** – Prose, published in (2011)

## Awards and recognitions

1. **First Prize** at the Cultural Meeting of the enterprises in Tepelenë (1980), with the amateur group of S.M.T.
1. **First Prize** at the Gjirokastër Folklore Festival (1988) with the song "Flaka mbuloi fshanë", sung by Hormova's group.
1. **Special Recognition** at the Gjirokastër Folklore Festival (1988) with the song "13 male me këmbë", sung by the youth group from Rexhin.
1. **Special Recognition** at the Gjirokastër Folklore Festival (2000) with the song "Ballad for the Commissioner Arben Zylyftari", sung by Hormova's group.
1. In **2002**, the Gjirokastër County Council awarded him the title **"Distinguished Personality in the Field of Art and Culture"** as a distinguished singer of the southern region’s iso-polyphony songs.
1. On **16 July 2012**, the President of the Republic of Albania, Mr. Bamir Topi, awarded him the **Silver "Naim Frashëri" Medal** with the citation: "For outstanding contribution to the development of Tepelenë’s folklore, particularly with the Hormova group, as a distinguished leader and rhapsodist."
1. On **31 October 2014**, the Tepelenë Municipal Council and Mayor Tërmet Peçi awarded him the title **"Honorary Citizen"**, with the citation: "For valuable contributions to the development of Tepelenë’s folklore, particularly with the Hormova group, as a leader and rhapsodist."
1. On **24 October 2015**, the Vatra Labe Association, Athens, awarded him the title **"Certificate of Honor"** posthumously, with the citation: "For preserving, strengthening, developing, and spreading Lab iso-polyphony, and for his great contribution to folklore and polyphony through his creativity."
1. **First Prize** at the Eighth International Albanian Polyphony Festival "Bylis" (22 September 2018) with the song "Atje kemi Labërinë", sung by the group **Lotë Kurbeti**.

## Death

Zaho Balili died in Athens on his birthday, 3 October 2001, due to a cerebral hemorrhage. Three of his volumes were published posthumously.

## Infobox (person)

- **name**: Zaho Balili
- **image**: File:Zaho Balili.jpg
- **image upright**: 0.7
- **caption**: Zaho Balili 2004
- **birth place**: :sq:Rexhin, Rexhin, Tepelenë
- **death place**: Athens, Greece
- **burial place**: Tepelenë, Albania
- **nationality**: Albanians, Albanian
- **occupation**: Poet, writer, rhapsodist
- **known for**: Author of iso-polyphony songs, creator, rhapsodist of the Polyphonic Group "_Lot Kurbeti_" Athens (2001)
- **children**: 3