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
In 2024, Bulgarians actively used the Google search engine to get informed about topics reflecting what was happening in the world and in this country. Bulgarian athletes once again proved that they can inspire and arouse national pride. That is why..
The Bulgarian Association of Crete has been working for nine years as a bridge between Bulgaria and the Bulgarian population on the southernmost Greek territory, sometimes replacing the most important partner - the state. One of the aims of the..
For the 16th time on January 1, the Tsarevets Fortress in Veliko Tarnovo welcomed the first tourist. This is the only architectural and museum complex in the country that operates year-round and is the most visited open-air museum in..
Bulgaria ranks last among EU Member States in terms of life satisfaction. This is according to Eurostat data for 2023 published today . With an average..
As winter numbs the wilderness, the tortoises hibernate in their shelters, protected from the cold and outside threats. But what happens to them during..
Bulgarian gardeners have been bringing the glory of Bulgaria to Croatia for more than a century and a half. They were true "ambassadors" of the humble..
+359 2 9336 661