Olimbi Velaj

Olimbi Velaj (1971) is an Albanian poet. She studied in Tirana and Sofia and graduated with a PhD in Literary Studies in 2012. She is the author of three poetry books: Çastet vdesin nën akrepa orësh (Moments Perish under the Hands of Clocks), 1998; Qenia pasdite (Being in Afternoon), bilingual (Albanian-English), 2003; Lumturia e të tjerëve (The Others’ Happiness), bilingual (Albanian-English), 2022.

Her poetry has been published in 15 languages in literary magazines and anthologies. She has received a number of awards: “Migjeni”, prize for poetry debut (Albania, 1993); the Prize of the Association of Writers and Artists of Kosovo for the best poetry by a woman poet in Albanian language (Kosovo, 2002); Naji Naaman’s Literary Prize (Lebanon, 2014); the Prize for Poetry of the Europian Academy of Arts (Albania, 2014); the Menada Prize for poetic creativity – International Festival “Days of Naim” (North Macedonia, 2020); the National Award for the Best Poetry Book of 2022 (Albania).

Velaj has worked as a journalist and lecturer in literature (in Durrës – Albania, Prishtina – Kosovo and Belgrade – Serbia). She also translates poetry from Bulgarian and English languages.