Rexhep Voka

Rexhep Voka was born in 1847 in the village of Şipkovica, Kalkandelen.[1] In 1868, Voka undertook religious studies in Istanbul where he worked as a professor after completing his education. Voka returned to Kalkandelen in 1895 where he became involved in the Albanian National Renaissance. In 1903, Voka was appointed Mufti of the Manastir Vilayet[2] and founded the first Albanian theological college in Üsküb.[3] In Monastir, before the Young Turk revolution, Voka started learning Albanian in Latin characters from Albanian Protestant missionaries.[2] In 1905, Voka attended the Pan-Albanian Congress organized in Bucharest. Headed by Albert Ghica, attended by Ismail Qemali and deliberated with Bucharest's Albanian community, the congress discussed the Albanian issue.

Rexhep Voka was a member of Bashkimi (Unity) at the time of the Young Turk revolution.[4] He printed an Albanian alphabet in Arabic script comprising forty-four letters, called Elifbaja shqip.[4] Tiranli Fazli then used this script to publish a thirty-two page grammar. Only one Albanian newspaper at the time ever appeared in Arabic script, and it lasted a brief period. Regardless of what script appeared, such material raised Albanian national consciousness.[4]

Rexhep Voka was highly regarded among Albanians for his involvement with the Albanian National Awakening. He encouraged education and schooling for the Albanians and has a statue dedicated to him in his birthplace of Shipkovica.[3]

Quote:

Njeriu pa din dhe dije të gjallë e sheh për të vdekur dije
A man without dīn and knowledge is alive to your eyes, but dead to your soul.