The role, importance, and contribution of the Albanological Institute in the genuine and professional study of Kosovo’s musical folklore and cultural

Abstract

This study examines the institutional foundations of the discipline of ethnomusicology in Kosovo, its development process, and its contributions to the country's cultural identity. Founded in 1953, the Institute of Albanianology in Pristina (IAP) has played a pioneering role in systematically collecting, preserving, and scientifically studying Kosovo's musical folklore. Field research, melodic studies, and monographs conducted under the leadership of Prof. Rexhep Munishi and Prof. Bahtir Sheholli have highlighted the melodic structure, rhythmic diversity, and sociocultural functions of Kosovo's folk music. These studies have made significant contributions not only to the documentation of folklore but also to the recognition of Kosovo's cultural heritage at national and international levels. Today, a new generation of researchers, such as Albin Sadiku, Krenar Doli, and Visar Munishi, continues the scholarly legacy of the IAP and strongly represents Kosovo's ethnomusicology in contemporary literature. In this context, the study demonstrates that Kosovo's musical culture, by connecting with universal musicological theories, both strengthens local cultural identity and offers unique contributions to universal scientific discussions.