Northern Albania, the soul of milk

ita eng
19 August 2019

The Syla family lives in the mountain village of Blerim, in northern Albania. Their everyday life, cadenced by ancient rhythms, revolves around the breeding of goats, ancient art and the cornerstone of the family economy. Photo by Valery Poshtarov

"Two brothers, their wives and children, along with their elderly parents - this is the patriarchal home of the Syla, a typical farming family in northern Albania. Its members share a roof, but above all - a way of life. The whole family participates in the work of the family farm in the mountain village of Blerim, in northern Albania. The road to the village is so bumpy that, especially during the winter, the Syla remain isolated for months. Suzana, the wife of Shelkzen, the elder brother, studied nursing and often in winter helps women give birth away from doctors and hospitals. Their faces, marked by fatigue, tell a profound truth, written by the harsh mountain wind ", Valery Poshtarov.

Vebije
Vebije is the mother of the Syla brothers. Her chore in the family farm is to take care of the poultry.
Morning milking
After breakfast, the whole family, including the youngest, go to the byre to milk the goats. Children follow their parents all the time and help with everything they can.
Alketa
Alketa, wife of the younger brother. The process of milking early in the morning resembles a quiet prayer.
Shkelzen
Shkelzen, taking a breath before he continues to milk the goats, one by one.
Agron
Agron is the elder Syla brother. After milking the goats, he sets up a fire in a niche fitted in the outer wall of the dairy to heat up the pot full of fresh milk.
At the window
Agron, watching his herd out of the byre window after they’ve just let the baby goatlings out to suckle from their mothers.
Cheese
A bit later, Alketa is already making cheese. Her niece Orkidea follows her every step and tries to memorize the secrets of the family recipe.
Bees
Shkelzen tends his bees with the same loving approach that he has to all living creatures around him.
Oak branches
While Shkelzen sets off with his loyal dog to take the goats out to graze, his brother and sister-in-law gather oak branches from the nearby forest to feed the goats during the bad-weather days, when they can’t get them out to graze.
Foliage
Their elder daughter, Orkidea, follows them everywhere, while Alketa takes care of the younger children.
Kids 1
Kids 2
At sunset