The The Kanun of Leke Dukagjini and (re) Publication of Pristina

Abstract

The Kanun of Lekë Dukagjini, compiled and codified by Shtjefën Gjeçovi, was first published as a book in Shkodra, in 1933, with a foreword made by Gjergj Fishta. Although in 1944 and then 1959 an attempt was made to republish such a thing did not happen. The reasons were different. However, its reprint was achieved only in 1972 in Prishtina. The book is accompanied by an in-depth study of Prof. dr. Syrja Pupovci, which can be considered one of the deepest studies, in which many scholars have relied, such as foreign ones, as well as Albanians.

In his study Pupovci talks about the origin, development and characteristics of the Kanun of Lekë Dukagjini, about the aspect of the genesis of the collection of materials by Gjeçov for its publication, and then about other aspects of this hitherto unwritten work of Albanians. Although there are some shortcomings in this work collected and codified by the scholar Gjeçov, he is still of the opinion that the "Kanun of Lekë Dukagjini" is one of the deepest studies of this monumental work of Albanian customary tradition, not only in legal terms.

The purpose of our paper is to address aspects of this publication and we will highlight some of the views of Syria Pupovci regarding this monumental work of Albanians.The method we have followed in this paper is that of analysis, but also of synthesis.