List of Albanians in North Macedonia

This is a list of Albanians in North Macedonia that includes both Macedonian people of Albanian descent and Albanian immigrants that have resided in Macedonia. The list is sorted by the fields or occupations in which the notable individual has maintained the most influence.

For inclusion in this list, each individual must have a Wikipedia article and show that they are Albanian and have lived in Macedonia.

History, politics and military

Middle ages

Arianiti family – Albanian noble family, lord of Debar
Gropa family – Albanian noble family, lord of Ohrid
Kastrioti family – Albanian noble family, lord of Kastrioti
Moisi Golemi – Albanian nobleman and a commander of the League of Lezhë

Ottoman period

Ahmed Izzet Pasha – Grand Vizier
Arabacı Ali Pasha – Ottoman grand vizier from 1691 to 1692
Konda Bimbaša – mercenary
George Ghica – Prince of Moldavia and Wallachia
Köprülü Mehmed Pasha – Grand Vizier. Founder of the Köprülü political dynasty of the Ottoman Empire
Mehmet Akif Pasha – Albanian-Ottoman statesman and governor of the Ottoman Empire
Ohrili Hüseyin Pasha – Grand Vizier
Patrona Halil – was the instigator of a mob uprising in 1730 which replaced Sultan Ahmed III with Mahmud I and ended the Tulip period

Albanian Renaissance

Ali Shefqet Shkupi – lieutenant colonel, First Chief of Supreme Staff of the Albanian Army.
Cen Elezi - Albanian nationalist figure and guerrilla fighter
Cen Leka – revolutionary and nationalist. fought in the Albanian Revolt of 1844
Dervish Cara – revolutionary and nationalist. A leader in the Albanian Revolt of 1844
Elez Isufi – Albanian nationalist figure and guerrilla fighter
Zyhdi Ohri - lawyer. One of the signatories of the Albanian Declaration of Independence
Hamdi Ohri - politician, One of the delegates of the Albanian Declaration of Independence
Mustafa Baruti – politician, One of the signatories of the Albanian Declaration of Independence
Mehmet Pashë Dërralla – military general, One of the delegates of the Albanian Declaration of Independence
Dervish Hima – publisher, One of the signatories of the Albanian Declaration of Independence
Nuri Sojliu – politician, One of the signatories of the Albanian Declaration of Independence
Tajar Tetova – military commander and activist of the Albanian national awakening

Young Turk Revolution & Turkish War of Independence

Ahmed Niyazi Bey – politician, Adjuntant Major, revolutionary and an instigator of the Young Turk Revolution (1908)
Eyüp Sabri Akgöl – Ottoman-Albanian revolutionary and one of the leaders of the Young Turk Revolution
Hayrullah Fişek – General in the Ottoman army, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of National Defence
Kâzım Özalp – Turkish military officer, politician, and one of the leading figures in the Turkish War of Independence.

Post Albanian Independence to the end of World War II

Gajur Deralla – World War II collaborator of Balli Kombëtar
Hafëz Jusuf Azemi – World War II collaborator of Balli Kombëtar
Mefail Shehu – World War II collaborator of Balli Kombëtar
Nexhmije Hoxha – First Lady of Communist Albania
Rexhep Jusufi – World War II collaborator of Balli Kombëtar
Sulë Hotla – World War II collaborator of Balli Kombëtar
Xhem Hasa – World War II collaborator of Balli Kombëtar

Break up of Yugoslavia

Agim Krasniqi – Albanian National Army commander
Alajdin Demiri – mayor, activist in the Unrest in Gostivar and Tetovo (1997)
Arbën Xhaferi – politician, Albanian rights activist
Gëzim Ostreni – military general, commanded the KLA and NLA. Recipient of The Presidential Medal of Merits (Kosovo)
Ismet Jashari – KLA soldier and recipient of the Hero of Kosovo
Jakup Asipi – military commander, commanded the 114th Brigade of the NLA
Nevzat Halili – Albanian rights activist and organiser of the Republic of Ilirida movement
Talat Xhaferi – Parliamentary speaker of the Republic of Macedonia, former commander of the 116th Brigade of the NLA
Xhezair Shaqiri – KLA and NLA commander

Modern period

Ali Ahmeti – politician, leader of the Democratic Union for Integration
Blerim Reka – politician, Minister of European Integration of Kosovo in North Macedonia^[1]^[2]
Branko Manoilovski – politician of Albanian Orthodox descent
Bujar Osmani – politician, Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia
Fatmir Besimi – politician, Minister of Finance of North Macedonia
Lazar Elenovski – politician, Minister of Defence of Macedonia
Menduh Thaçi – Leader of the Democratic Party of Albanians
Ogerta Manastirliu – Minister of Health and Social Care of Albania
Zana Ramadani – German politician and feminist activist

Science and academia

Bajazid Doda – Albanian ethnographic writer and photographer
Ferid Murad – Medical Researcher, Recipient of the 1998 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
Gjergj Qiriazi – writer, One of the founders of the Albanian printing press Bashkimi i Kombit
Ibrahim Temo – doctor, One of the founders of the Society for the Publication of Albanian Writings
Mehmet Gega – educator, and Albanian rights activist in Yugoslavia
Myrteza Ali Struga doctor, One of the signatories of the Albanian Declaration of Independence
Parashqevi Qiriazi – educator. Chairwoman of the Congress of Manastir
Petro Janura – Personality of the Albanian language, literature, and folklore in Yugoslavia
Sehadete Mekuli – physician and Albanian rights activist in Yugoslavia
Sevasti Qiriazi – educator, Pioneer of Albanian female education
Tajar Zavalani – Albanian historian, publicist, and writer

Arts

Abdurrahim Buza – painter
Adrian Gaxha – singer (Albanian Language), Participant in the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest
Arif Şentürk – folk music singer (Turkish Language)
Avni Qahili – journalist
Bardhi – rapper (Albanian Language)
Bebe Rexha - singer, songwriter (English Language)
Blerim Destani – actor
Can Yaman - Turkish actor and model
Candan Erçetin - singer, songwriter (Turkish Language)
Çiljeta – Albanian pop singer and model (Albanian Language)
Elita 5 – rock music group (Albanian Language)
Kanita – singer (Albanian Language)
Lindon Berisha – singer, songwriter (Albanian Language)
Lorenc Antoni – composer, conductor, and ethnomusicologist
Mateja Matevski – poet,
Melis Sezen - Turkish actress and model
Mimoza Veliu – photographer
Omer Kaleshi – Painter
René Redzepi – Danish chef and co-owner of the three-Michelin star restaurant Noma
Rıza Tevfik Bölükbaşı – Turkish philosopher, poet, politician of liberal signature and a community leader
Sabri Berkel – Painter
Sabri Kalkandelen – poet, chief of the Istanbul Imperial Library
Shkëlzen Baftiari – pianist
Shpat Kasapi – singer (Albanian Language)
Tolgahan Sayışman – actor and model
Tony Dovolani – Dancing with the stars
Tuna – singer (Albanian Language)
Venera Lumani – singer (Albanian Language)
Zagorka Shuke (née Kanefçe born 14 July 1914 – 17 January 2000) was an Albanian film, stage and theater actress, best known for her performance in the 1972 film"Kapedani". She was born in Ohrid.

Sports

Footballers

Note: Only players that have been capped at international level

Admir Mehmedi – footballer, Switzerland national team
Afrodita Salihi – footballer, North Macedonia national team
Agim Ibraimi – footballer, North Macedonia national team
Agon Elezi – footballer, North Macedonia national team
Ardian Cuculi – footballer, North Macedonia national team
Ardon Jashari – footballer, Switzerland national team
Arijan Ademi – footballer, North Macedonia national team
Armend Alimi – footballer, Macedonia national team
Artim Šakiri – footballer, Macedonia national team
Bajram Fetai – footballer, Macedonia national team
Berat Sadik – footballer, Finland national team
Besart Abdurahimi – footballer, Macedonia national team
Besart Ibraimi – footballer, North Macedonia national team
Besir Demiri – footballer, Macedonia national team
Blerim Džemaili – footballer, Switzerland national team
Enis Bardhi – footballer, North Macedonia national team
Enis Fazlagikj – footballer, North Macedonia national team
Ertan Demiri – footballer, Macedonia national team
Ezgjan Alioski – footballer, North Macedonia national team
Ferhan Hasani – footballer, North Macedonia national team
Gentjana Rochi – footballer, North Macedonia national team
Hakan Şükür – footballer, Turkey national team
Hava Mustafa – footballer, North Macedonia national team
Ilir Elmazovski – footballer, Macedonia national team
Jasir Asani – footballer, Albania national team
Leonard Zuta – footballer, Macedonia national team
Lindon Selahi – footballer, Albania national team
Muhamed Demiri – footballer, Macedonia national team
Muzafer Ejupi – footballer, Macedonia national team
Naser Aliji – footballer, Albania national team
Nedim Bajrami – footballer, Albania national team
Nijaz Lena – footballer, Macedonia national team
Pajtim Kasami – footballer, Switzerland national team
Riza Durmisi – footballer, Denmark national team
Sedat Berisha – footballer, Macedonia national team
Shkodran Mustafi – footballer, Germany national team
Taulant Seferi – footballer, Albania national team
Valon Ahmedi – footballer, Albania national team
Valon Ethemi – footballer, North Macedonia national team
Visar Musliu – footballer, North Macedonia national team
Xhelil Abdulla – footballer, Macedonia national team
Zekirija Ramadani – footballer, Macedonia national team

Martial arts

Abdula Memedi – wrestler, Competed in the 1980 Summer Olympics
Arbresha Rexhepi – judoka, Competed in the 2020 Summer Olympic
Enver Idrizi – karateka, Silver medalist in the 1994 World Championships
Mirdi Limani – kickboxer, WKA World Championship
Nuri Seferi – boxer, Former WBO European Cruiserweight Champion
Safer Sali – wrestler, Competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics
Sefer Seferi – boxer
Shaban Sejdiu – wrestler, Olympic and World Championship medalist
Shaban Tërstena – wrestler. Olympic gold medalist and World Championship medalist

Others

Dardan Dehari – alpine ski racer
Drita Islami – hurdler, Competed in the 2016 Summer Olympic
Lirim Zendeli – formula 2 racer
Mirjeta Bajramoska – handballer

Religion

Gjerasim Qiriazi – educator. The founder of the Protestant Church of Albania ^[3] which opened on 15 October 1891.^[4]^[5]
Mother Teresa – nun. Recipient of the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize^[6]^[7]^[8]
Mustafa Ruhi Efendi – religious (Naqshbandi) and political leader. President of the Central Committee of the League of Prizren
Sherif Langu – imam, One of the delegates of the Albanian Declaration of Independence
Vehbi Dibra – politician and theologist. One of the signatories of the Albanian Declaration of Independence and the first Grand Mufti of Albania

References

^ "IBNA Interview with Albanian candidate for presidential elections in North Macedonia, Blerim Reka". IBNA. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
^ "Ethnic issues, foreign policy key in North Macedonia presidential campaign". Sofia Globe. 4 March 2019. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
^ "Parashqevi Qiriazi". www.kolonja.com. Archived from the original on 24 March 2011.
^ Elsie, Robert (2001). A dictionary of Albanian religion, mythology, and folk culture. Library of Congress: New York University Press. pp. 210–212. ISBN 0-8147-2214-8. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
^ de Haan, Francisca; Daskalova Krasimira; Loutfi Anna (2006). A Biographical Dictionary of Women's Movements and Feminisms in Central, Eastern, and South Eastern Europe, 19th and 20th Centuries. Central European University Press. pp. 454–457. ISBN 9789637326394. Retrieved 2014-10-22.
^ The Salisbury Review, Volumes 19–20. InterVarsity Press. 28 January 2011. p. 2. ISBN 978-0-8308-3472-3. Mother Teresa, Albanian by birth
^ "Mother Teresa". www.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2017-05-18.
^ Alpion, Gëzim (2006). Mother Teresa: Saint or Celebrity?. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 0-203-08751-8. Retrieved 15 November 2014. the nun's mother was born in Prizren in Kosova, her family came originally from the Gjakova region, also in Kosova

[1] "IBNA Interview with Albanian candidate for presidential elections in North Macedonia, Blerim Reka". IBNA. Retrieved 2019-04-04.

[2] "Ethnic issues, foreign policy key in North Macedonia presidential campaign". Sofia Globe. 4 March 2019. Retrieved 2019-04-04.

[Parashqevi_Qiriazi-3] "Parashqevi Qiriazi". www.kolonja.com. Archived from the original on 24 March 2011.

[Elsie-4] Elsie, Robert (2001). A dictionary of Albanian religion, mythology, and folk culture. Library of Congress: New York University Press. pp. 210–212. ISBN 0-8147-2214-8. Retrieved May 10, 2010.

[de_Haan-5] Haan, Francisca; Daskalova Krasimira; Loutfi Anna (2006). A Biographical Dictionary of Women's Movements and Feminisms in Central, Eastern, and South Eastern Europe, 19th and 20th Centuries. Central European University Press. pp. 454–457. ISBN 9789637326394. Retrieved 2014-10-22.

[6] The Salisbury Review, Volumes 19–20. InterVarsity Press. 28 January 2011. p. 2. ISBN 978-0-8308-3472-3. Mother Teresa, Albanian by birth

[7] "Mother Teresa". www.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2017-05-18.

[8] Alpion, Gëzim (2006). Mother Teresa: Saint or Celebrity?. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 0-203-08751-8. Retrieved 15 November 2014. the nun's mother was born in Prizren in Kosova, her family came originally from the Gjakova region, also in Kosova

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