The story of Osman Zym, one of the first photographers in Kosovo: Driteshkronja e Mitrovica (Photo)

They say a picture is worth a thousand words! The history of past life over the years is best told by photography, which remains forever in memories - as a reflection of the past and as an impetus for the future that awaits us.

"Albanians are part of the lucky peoples, as far as participation and contribution in the history of world photography is concerned. We were 'delayed' only 19 years after the announcement of the discovery of photography (1839), when the first photographic studio was opened in Shkodër in 1856 by the Italian Pjetro Marubi. This studio was also the first photography studio in the Balkans. I remind you that although the capital of the Ottoman Empire, Istanbul became its first studio only in 1915", said professor and photography artist, Fahredin Spahija, in an interview for the Telegraph.

When it comes to photographs, of course, their shooting must be done skillfully, with an artistic flair, something that is misunderstood today. Nowadays we all think we are photographers, in our own way. However, once upon a time photography - in addition to professionalism - was a profession that also required sacrifice, especially in the difficult circumstances in which Albanians once lived.

Such were the 20s of the last century. Photography then was not only rarely done, but also by people of the craft. And, the final product was fanatically preserved between generations. This product, this image on paper, has more value today than ever, because it is evidence of times that are being forgotten.

One of the first photographers in Kosovo, especially in Mitrovica, was Osman Zymi. He was born in 1903, in this city. He comes from a family in the south of Albania, which later moved to the city of Gjakova. In Gjakova, the last name is changed from Kryeziu to Haxhi Hasani, to continue with the relocation of this family to the city of Mitrovica.

Today, Osman Zymi is not only remembered for photographs of ordinary citizens, but for the photographs of many well-known names at that time, especially the patriots of the first and during the Second World War, such as: Xhafer Deva, Rexhep Mitrovica, members of the National Front, etc. .

In 1925, for the first time in Mitrovica, he opened a photography studio named "Photo Atelier". Today, from several of Osman's grandchildren, the story of the family is narrated to us by his grandson, Mithat Zymi.

"Osmani and his brother Xhemajlin, in Mitrovica, for the first time work with a textile store. With the initiative of the younger brother, Xhemajli, they open the first photography studio, called 'Photo Atelier'. Their first device was a gift from an Englishman," he says to Telegrafin.

According to his grandson, Osman Zymi's life, although with many vicissitudes, is fulfilled after he gives birth - with his wife Vasvije from Bellopoja - to sons Shaqiri, Halit, Shevki and Kemajli, as well as daughters Esma and Selveti.

I used to study

"Osmani from a young age is also involved in other activities: opening a school in the Albanian language in the basement of his house, named 'Skënder Bey'; then he joined the National Front in Mitrovica, where he was persecuted by the then Serbian regime and imprisoned several times. During the Second World War, due to his activity in the National Front, he was forced to leave Mitrovica for Suhodoll. In order to lose track of his identity, as an activist he changed his surname from Haxhi Hasani to Zymi, which surname we still keep", added his nephew.

Shaqir Zymi

The struggle for existence and patriotism does not end here. According to his nephew, the family does not close the bar, but it is run by the sons Shaqiri and Haliti.

Osmani with his children

"They also work as teachers in the Technical School of Mitrovica, since 1953, in the subjects Chemistry-Physics (Shaqiri) and Mathematics (Haliti)", he emphasizes.

Osman Zymi died of a heart attack at the age of 51, in 1954.

Building the first photography studio in Mitrovica

"Shaqiri, my father - as the oldest son in the family - continues to take pictures even though he is a teacher. He is also tortured by the Serbian regime and imprisoned for a short time. The father passed away at the age of 40, on the way to supply the materials for photography. I was one year old when he left me. I didn't get to know my father except through my mother and photographs. After my father's death, my mother, Myzejeni, continued the craft of photography," he says, adding that his mother managed to raise her five orphaned children with this craft, writes Telegrafi.

Osmani with his family

The tradition of the Zymi family is continued by Osmani's brother, Kemajli, and by Shaqiri's working wife, thus becoming the first female photographer in Mitrovica.

Studio in 1920

"My aunt Kemajli and my mother constantly worked in the bar. I took photography lessons from them, thus becoming - me and my sisters - my mother's right hand until 1980, when eventually the responsibility of the 'Foto Zymi' studio passed to me", said Mithati.

Myzejene Zymi, the first photographer in Mitrovica

According to him, it was not very easy to keep a photography bar afloat, as the system made professional work difficult.

"As a young photographer, I continued in the footsteps of my ancestors, working in the bar. I have been involved in various activities, such as recordings of patriotic activities for the history of Isa Boletini, which I sent to Albania; recordings of Albanian sports games; the documentation for various newspapers of the beatings of workers forcibly dismissed from work, etc., he said.

Mithati once, at "Photo ZYmi"

In 1996, Mithati was forced to close the photography bar, due to large tax liabilities. And, during the last war in Kosovo, "Foto Zymi" was completely demolished.

Mithati today

"Currently I am a technical service official in the North Mitrovica Municipality", he said, adding that his desire to reactivate the family legacy - that of the photographer - has never faded. "But, due to the financial possibilities, this remains now only a dream".

Cameras used by the Zymi family

Professor Spahija emphasizes that Osman Zymi (or Osman Haxhi Hasani) is the first from Mitrovica to open a photography studio in Mitrovica and among the first in all of Kosovo.

Osman Zymi with his wife and sons (Photo provided by Fahredin Spahija)

"This status, from the first mitrovica photographer, enabled him to witness many important historical events related to Mitrovica. but also with important personalities who came from this economically, socially and culturally important city", says Spahija for Telegrafin.

He mentions the facts that from Zymi's photographs we can understand what the men who represented Mitrovica in the Second League of Prizren looked like, such as Xhafer Deva, Rexhep Mitrovica, Bedri Gjinaj... for which his photo library should be preserved.

Osman Zymi, photo from 1922 (Photo provided by Fahredin Spahija)

"Osman Zymin, in addition to being engaged as a photographer, we also find him engaged in patriotic activities of the time, supporting them, not infrequently even financially! I wish that the family members know how to preserve the heritage left by their first by taking care of the photo library saved from the last war! More than anything else, it should be preserved for documentary reasons because, as I said before, Osmani photographed the main political and social personalities of Mitrovica, who in the forties of the last century played an important role on the national level as well. I think that the political and cultural authorities of Mitrovica should create a working group from the field of history and photography, which would collect the photographs created by this pioneer photographer, to process and study them and then as a final act to publish his monograph. This would honor all his efforts and his respected family, but at the same time the city of Mitrovica", said Spahija. /Elfije Boletini/Telegraph/