Sali Nivica

Sali Nivica or Sali Nivitza (May 15, 1890 – January 10, 1920) was a politician, a patriot, an Albanian journalist and a teacher. For his patriotic activity he received the highest Albanian award, 'Honor of the Nation' as well as that of 'Teacher of the People'. He was assassinated in 1920 at aged 29.

Life Nivica was born in Rexhin village in the southern Ottoman Albania, today's Tepelenë. He went to school in Monastir (1904–1907) where he was inspired by the rebel Bajo Topulli. After that he went in Yannina where he joined the Greek-language Zosimea school (1907–09). He went in Durrës to teach there for a short time (1909–10). During this time he was increasingly caught up by the Albanian nationalist movement. During 1911–12 he was involved with anti-Ottoman activities and uprisings in southern Albania. For that he would be arrested and imprisoned in Istanbul. However, he was soon released with the intervention of Ismail Bey Vlora and managed to arrange himself to teach Albanian at the Robert College.

Nivica returned to Albania after independence and together with Mustafa Hilmi Leskoviku (1887–1915), also known as Muço Qulli, he funded the newspaper Populli ("The people") in Vlorë (1914) and shortly moved to Shkodër. The end of World War I would find him there. He continued as the editor-in-chief of the Albanian patriotic newspaper Populli restarted in early 1919. It was published in Shkodër, with strong nationalistic notes supporting the Committee for the National Defence of Kosovo. The first issue came out on January 18, 1919, with the slogan "Për lavdinë e Atdheut" ("For the glory of the nation"). It served somehow as a de facto journal of the committee. During all its activity the newspaper propagandized Albanian ethnic unity, the Albanian national cause, and called for the liberation of Kosovo from the Serbs.

Funeral The day of his funeral the whole town closed the store in his respect. His funeral was attended by a large number of people.