Kostandina Raki Bello from Radio Bulgaria’s Albanian language service is a lead character in the film by journalist from public service TV BNT Boyko Vassilev, entitled “Bratonchedi. Voices from Albania”, with a focus on the word bratonchedi, meaning cousins in Albanian, which is, in Bulgarian bratovchedi, a difference of just one letter. To make the documentary, Boyko Vassilev and cameraman Mihail Vrabchev met with a great many people to illustrate the bond with Bulgaria.
One such person, Kostandina – the grandmother of our Kostandina – spoke Bulgarian all her life, even though she only saw Bulgaria in her later years. Her son, Raki, graduated from the university in Blagoevgrad, and today studies and teaches the Bulgarian and the Albanian language. Her granddaughter is doing law in Sofia, and is a member of the staff of Radio Bulgaria’s Albanian language service.
The Bellos are from the Bulgarian minority in Albania. The Bulgarian language they speak goes back centuries. And bratovchedi and bratonchedi is just part of the story in the documentary “Bratonchedi. Voices from Albania”.
22-year old Kostandina was born in Blagoevgrad in Bulgaria, and has been a professional translator from and to Albanian. She is holder of several poetry translation awards, she has also translated Stefan Ivanov’s novel Song of the Nightingale to Albanian. Kostandina also has experience as translator and anchor of Bulgarian-language news at the Albanian radio and TV. She is currently doing law at the St. Kliment Ohridski University in Sofia. She joined the staff of Radio Bulgaria’s Albanian language service in November 2022.
Compiled by Krasimir Martinov
Translated and posted by Milena Daynova
Photos: Krasimir Martinov
Nearly a thousand children from more than 20 countries have responded to the call of the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad to tell in words, brush or song about their favourite place in Bulgaria - where they feel happiest. Recreating the beauty of..
One of the regional cities in the Bulgarian Northwest is Montana. According to statistics, the region cannot boast of particularly high indicators in the areas of infrastructure, economy, education, social services. According to data from the past..
The high temperatures of the sea water, which reached 30°C on the southern part of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, drove the seasonal fish deep into the sea. Due to the heat combined with northerly currents, the Gobius and black..
In most people’s minds, Bulgaria’s Northwest is a land of pristine nature, breathtaking landscapes and a rich cultural heritage which makes the region a..
sunshine, cloud, rain and thunder
Partly cloudy, chance of rain