Gjama e Burrave në Dukagjin: Rituali Mortor
The Funeral Ritual of Men’s Lament (Gjama) in Dukagjini

Summary/Abstract: Part of the funeral ritual, which is occurred even today in communities that have come down from the Christian areas of northern highlands of Albania, is what is known as the Men's Lament (Gjama). This phenomenon occurs in the Dukagjin area or in communities that have moved from this area and living in the suburbs of Albanian cities. Men's lament is a rite that has begun a long time ago. Albanian scholars have talked about this phenomenon and have tried to explain and describe it. My goal was, and is to give a contribution in the field that has the object of study this subject, because as well as previous works are not exhaustive and have had or not as their object the field research. I would say that precisely at this point there is my priority, since most of my work related to the study of this phenomenon; I have done in the field, having the opportunity to be part of the funeral ceremonies, to record them, and also to interview and photograph the men who lamented. I have also the opportunity of observation of numerous recordings of laments, certainly late recordings, of the period after the 90s, which have helped me to estimate and to judge more clearly about this phenomenon. Of course, men’s lament has changed until today. It is already performed as a part of the meaningful tradition and identity of communities which execute it.

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