Josif Bageri

Josif Jovan Bageri (August 15, 1868 – June 15, 1915) was an Albanian rilindas, poet and teacher. He advocated for the education of Albanians in Upper Reka.

Life He was born into an Albanian-Orthodox family in Nistrovë in the region Upper Reka, Ottoman Empire (now North Macedonia). In his 1887, he migrated to Sofia where he worked as a shoemaker and became involved with the Albanian national movement. In January 1893, he founded the cultural association Dëshira, which worked for the development of the Albanian language and Albanian schools. His son Kristo, who also was involved in the Albanian national awaking, was murdered by the VMRO in 1906.

Legacy

In North Macedonia, there is an association named after Bageri, which is engaged in the promotion of his works among Albanians living in this country. A street in Peshkopi and Debar bear Bageri's name, his bust is located in Debar and on one of the memorial bridges in Skopje.