Gazmend Kapllani has a book out and I went to the launch last night at the Hellenic American Union. It is called “Μικρό ημερολόγιο συνόρων” (Small diary of borders) and is published by Livanis Publications. The executive director of the HAU, Leonidas - Phoebus Koskos wrote this about Gazmend and the book:

With roughly fifteen years of immigration behind it, the Albanian community has begun to set down roots in Greece and become an integral part of Greek society. The account of an individual’s immigration is always of interest, not only to the person who lived it or to others with similar experiences but also to Greek society in general.

We are especially pleased to present, together with Livanis Publications, Mr Gazmend Kapllani’s book. The writer, who since his arrival in Greece in 1991 has lived and worked in Athens, views the border syndrome as some kind of “illness”.

The novel speaks about precisely this illness. It talks about borders of totalitarianism, of flight, guilt, love, expectation, co-existence and the collective and the work permit. It bridges the individual and the collective, giving voice to all those immigrants who have sought refuge in their silence.

The panel that presented the book were all very interesting but it was Gazmend himself who captured the attention. He is a charming and eloquent speaker and he persuaded me that his will be the first novel I will attempt to read in Greek.

He does not consider himself to be an Albanian writer but a Greek writer with an Albanian background.

He spoke about people in Albania wishing that he was more Albanian, wishing that he would speak for them. He talks about being himself. This is something that many “minority” people in the arts experience and something I could relate to very well. Somehow we are expected to speak for all “our people” whatever that means. The only thing that is possible is to speak for ourselves. This is not to say that our words (or any art form) cannot relate to some collective experiences, but we don’t (and can’t) speak for everyone.

People often accuse Gazmend of wanting the the whole world to be immigrants. His response to that critisism:

the truth is, I don’t want anyone to have to be an immigrant

After a rather muddled and fairly uninspiring set of comments and questions from the audience, Gazmend had the last word. (paraphrased)

You have two choices as an immigrant. Be the victim and stay with the misery or follow your dreams and rise above the difficulties. The immigrants have made their choice. Now it’s up to politicians and governments to make theirs.

Go and buy the book (if you don’t read Greek, buy it for someone who does) and be sure to visit his blog Υπάρχουμε….. Συνυπάρχουμε; (in Greek) for his insights on racism, immigration and other issues. He is also a regular writer at Ta Nea

Good luck with the book Gazmend

UPDATE: For a review of the book by Vivienne Nilan, please go here