Irma Kurti | |
|---|---|
 Irma Kurti in 2019 | |
| Born | March 20, 1966[ citation needed ] Tirana |
| Occupation | Poet, writer, lyricist, journalist, translator |
| Citizenship | Italian, Albanian |
| Education | University of Athens |
| Alma mater | University of Tirana |
| Genre | Poetry, Novels, Short stories, Lyrics |
| Parents | Hasan Kurti, Sherife Mezini Kurti |
Irma Kurti (born March 20, 1966 [1] , in Tirana) is an Albanian poet, writer, lyricist, journalist and translator. She is a naturalized Italian citizen. [2] [3]
She graduated from the English Department of the University of Tirana in 1988, [4] and has since worked as a teacher of English and journalist for various newspapers, such as "Mësuesi" (The teacher), and "Dita informacion" (The Day Information), among others. [5]
In September 1997, she completed a one-year Greek language and culture course at the University of Athens, Greece. She also took numerous courses for specialization in journalism in various locations across Europe and North America. [6]
Kurti began writing poetry at an early age. [7] In 1980, she won first prize in a national contest as part of "Pionieri" magazine's 35th anniversary. [8] In 1989, she took second prize in a competition organized by Radio-Tirana for young poets on the 45th anniversary of Albania's liberation. [9] Since then, she has won 85 awards in several international literary contests within Italy and Switzerland. In 2013, she won the IX Edition International Prize Universum Donna (equivalent to Woman of the Year) and the Ambassador of Peace nomination from the University of Peace in Lugano, Switzerland. She was also awarded "The Albanian Poet of the year 2015" prize from the Albanian P.E.N. Center. [10]
She received the Leonardo da Vinci and Giacomo Leopardi prizes from the Chimera Arte Contemporanea Cultural Association of Lecce. The same association also honored her with the European Ambassador Award and named her the Best Poet of the Year in 2022. [11]
Irma Kurti is a member of the jury for several literary competitions in Italy. She is also a translator for the Ithaca Foundation in Spain. [12]
Irma Kurti is also well known as the lyrics writer of many famous Albanian songs. [13] She has written approximately 150 lyrics for adults and children. [14]
The poems of Irma Kurti have been included in some publications of the International Library of Poetry in Maryland, USA as in the Anthology: "Forever Spoken", "The best poems and poets of 2007" etc. Her poems and short stories have been included in the anthologies: "Il Federiciano", publication of the Publishing House "Aletti Editore" 2010, "Diffusione Autori" 2011, of "GDS Edizioni", "Lingua Madre- Stories of foreign women in Italy, 2012/2013", "The Universal Encyclopedia of Italian Authors 2013" etc.
Irma Kurti has published more than 100 works, including books of poetry, fiction and translations. She has published thirty books in Albanian and twenty - nine in Italian including poetry collections, short stories, and novels. [15] Her books have been translated and published in 18 countries. [16]
In the year 2020 she received the title of Honorary President of WikiPoesia. [17] She lives in Bergamo, Italy. [18]
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