Kristaq Rama

Albanian sculptor and educator

Kristaq Rama
Born	(1932-07-31)31 July 1932 Durrës, Albania
Died	11 April 1998(1998-04-11) (aged 65) Tirana, Albania
Known for	Sculpture
Family	Edi Rama (son) Zef Kolombi (uncle)
Signature

Kristaq Rama (31 July 1932 – 11 April 1998)^[1] was an Albanian sculptor, art educator and a member of the Communist Party in Albania under Enver Hoxha's rule. He was the father of current Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.

Early life and education

He was born on 31 July 1932 in Durrës to Vlash Rama and Veronika Kolombi, sister of Zef Kolombi.^{[circular reference]}

Rama graduated from the Artistic Lyceum "Jordan Misja", in the Department of Fine Arts in 1951, and three years later left Albania to study in Leningrad, Soviet Union.

Career

After graduation, he returned to Albania, where he worked in Tirana, primarily as superintendent of fine arts at the Albanian Ministry of Culture, and at the same time taught as an external lecturer at the Higher Institute of Arts of Tirana.

As a sculptor, Rama created several busts of warriors, people portraits, female sculptures, as well as other decorations.

Implication with communist dictatorship crimes

In August 1988, Rama signed – along with Ramiz Alia and others^[2]^[3] – documents for the death penalty of poet Havzi Nela by hanging.^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8] Other documents show that Rama signed for the death penalty for Enver Osmani, a 29-year-old from Dibra.^[9]

Personal life

He was the father of Edi Rama, president of the Socialist Party of Albania and Prime Minister of Albania, also several times former mayor of Tirana.^[10]

Rama died on 11 April 1998, aged 65, after suffering a heart attack in Tirana.

References

^ http://galeriakombetare.gov.al/en/collection/kristaq-rama.shtml
^ ^{[dead link]} Death sentence document Archived 14 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
^ Havzi Nela death penalty (in Albanian).
^ Varja e Havzi Nelës, zbardhet vendimi dhe firma e Kristaq Ramës (in Albanian).
^ 1988-Kristaq Rama firmosi vendimin me vdekje në litar për Havzi Nelën (in Albanian).
^ Dënimi i krimeve të komunizmit, guri në qafën e politikës në Shqipëri (in Albanian).
^ Poeti disident Havzi Nela... Archived 7 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine (in Albanian).
^ Ja si Kristaq Rama vendosi për varjen në litar të poetit Havzi Nela (in Albanian).
^ Kristaq Rama, firmë për ekzekutimin e të riut nga Dibra Archived 31 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine (in Albanian).
^ Socialist Party of Albania Leadership Archived 6 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine.