Lulzim Tafa

Lulzim Tafa (born 2 February 1970 in Lipjan, Kosovo) is a poet and academic. Tafa served as the Rector of AAB University, the largest non-public university in the Western Balkan region, from 2012 to 2020.

Early life

He was born in Lipjan, near Prishtina, the capital city of the Republic of Kosova. He attained his primary and secondary education in Lipjan, to later finish his graduate and postgraduate studies at the Faculty of Law of the University of Prishtina. Subsequently, Tafa pursued his doctoral studies at the Law Faculty of the University of Sarajevo, ultimately achieving the academic distinction of Doctor of Legal Sciences.

Career

He is dedicated to promoting and supporting the rights of both humans and animals. Notably, he founded the Human Rights Protection Center, the Cultural Center, the AAB Theater "Faruk Begolli" at AAB University and recently, the "Poetry Theater," a theater dedicated solely to poetry. Furthermore, he has established several international awards, including the renowned "Ali Podrimja" international award for Arts and Literature". He is an honorary member of the Council of Albanian Ambassadors (CAA) and a member of the Kosova PEN Center.

He is among the world's most famous and most translated Albanian poets. His works have gained widespread international acclaim, as evidenced by their translations into multiple languages, including: English, German, Italian, Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, Montenegrin, Turkish, Greek, Romanian, Roma, French, Ukrainian, Azeri, Swedish, Arabic, Macedonian, Russian, Slovenian, Hungarian.

He is member of the Academy of Sciences of Albania, member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, etc. He holds many honorary titles in prestigious world academies and universities.

Awards

Decoration for Poet Lulzim Tafa - Patriarch of Ukraine, Patriarch Filaret, the "Order of Saint Yuri the Victorious"

Italian students at the International Poetry Festival in Taranto created a caricature of Mr. Tafa. Officer in the French Order of Arts & Letters (2023) Kosovo Kosovo Presidential Medal of Merit (2018) Kosovo Highest decoration bestowed by the Patriarch of Ukraine, Patriarch Filaret, the "Order of Saint Yuri the Victorious". National Poetry Award “At Gjergj Fishta ”(2025) Lezhë, Albania. International Award "Mihai Eminescu" (2018) Romania International Award "Neruda Awards" (2019) Italy International Award "Naji Naaman" (2019) Lebanon International Award "Radovan Zogovic" 2016 Montenegro "Ramadan Sinani" Book Fair Award (2015) Tetovo, North Macedonia International Award "Alexander the Great" (2021) Greece “Lirikë me shi” - Azem Shkreli Award (2024) - from The Municipality of Peja "Best Poetry Book" Award for “Rivali i Adamit” from the Poetry Meeting in Municipality of Gjakova

Published books

Rivali i Adamit - Poetry Book, AAB Publishing House, Prishina, 2024 Gjaku nuk bëhet ujë - Poetry Book, Rilindja, Pristina 1993 Metaforë e pikëlluar - Poetry Book, Rilindja, Pristina 1995 Planeti Babiloni - Poetry Book, Rilindja, Prishtina 1997 Vdekja çon fjalë - Poetry Book, Rilindja Pristina, 1998 I kam edhe dy fjalë- Poetry Book - Faik Konica, Prishtina, 2011 Shtini n’dhe këto fjalë - Poetry Book - collection of poems, Faik Konica, Prishtina 2015 "Flirt" - Poetry Book, Botimet AAB, Pristina 2019

Collection of poems Antologji Personale - Poetry Book - Kosova PEN Center, Prishtina, 2025 TË DIELAVE MOS MË THIRR, Collection of poems, Armagedoni, Pristina 2019 Paketimi i merzisë - Collection of poems, Luma Grafik, Tetovo 2017 Analogjia e Shëmtisë - Collection of poems, Faik Konica, Prishtina, 2002 Ekspozitë me ëndrra- Collection of poems, Onufri Publishing House, Tirana, 2024

Some of the publications in foreign languages:

Traumausstellung Poetry, Amanda Verlag, Sinaia 2013 Terrible songs Gracious light, New York, 2013 Under manen sover tiderna Poetry, Erik Hans Forlag, 2012 Expozitie de vise Poetry, Amanda Edit, 2012 La theorie de l'explication des reves", Poetry, Esprit Des Eagles, 2013 Vraziji Posao Poetry, Djordan Studio, 2015 La cronica di una santa Guerra Poetry, Ginta Latina, 2013 Zavjetne pjesme Poetry, Dignitas, Podgorica, 2016 Teuta Poetry, Grinta, 2018 Dali ti imas Bolka Poetry book, Akademski Pecat, 2018 Ne zovi me Nedeljom poetry book, Allma, Belgrade 2018 Szokatlan ima, poetry in Hungarian Budapest 2019 Ne Klici me v nedeljo, poetry in Slovenian, Ljubljana 2020 ТОЛКОВАНЕ ДОЖДЛИВЫХ СНОВ, ЛЮЛЬЗИМ ТафА, ЛИТО, poetry book, 2020 (Russian language). Bersa e Roslipeimaske, poetry book, Romani emancipacia, Belgrade 2020. Тафа Люлзім. "Розмова з камінням", вибрані поезії'', Kyiv, poetry book, 2021 (Ukrainian language). On Sundays do not call me, poetry book, Edition Cyberwit, Allahabad, India.