Forca
2018
Video 11 min
The 1990s were a challenging period for Albanians, most of whom lived in two Balkan states: Albania, which had just emerged from the grip of a harsh dictatorship, and the former Yugoslavia, torn apart by wars. For decades, Albanians on both sides of the border were isolated, with no contact even among families separated by the divide. For the first time, Albanians of shared blood began to meet amidst the wreckage, fleeing illegally to Western countries in search of peace and a better life.
This was also the fate of “Forca” and her family, who fled to Germany illegally to seek asylum. After facing many hardships along the way, they arrived in Germany, but unfortunately, their asylum request was denied. However, the experience differed for another “Forca” and her family from Kosovo, who were granted asylum due to the wars in the former Yugoslavia.
During this period, three members of the Albanian family from Shkodra (Albania) and three members of the Kosovar family from Gjakova (Kosovo) formed a bond. When the family from Shkodra had their asylum rejected, they adopted the identity of the Kosovar family and fled to Italy. There, they were granted asylum using the Kosovar family’s documents, living for years under a shared fake identity. Both families navigated life in the EU using a single set of documents, representing a broader phenomenon in which Albanians from Albania sought asylum by presenting themselves as Kosovars.
Even today, thousands of Albanian families continue to live in Western countries under Kosovar identities. “Forca’s” family is just one example of this complex reality, reflecting the struggles and survival strategies of a displaced people.