Between Staying and Leaving: Interview between Emmanuel Chimezie (Nigeria) and Xhuli Spahiu (Kosovo)

A Conversation on Poetry, Society, and the Emotional Landscape of Kosovo

Interviewer: Emmanuel Chimezie (Nigeria)

Interviewee: Xhuli Spahiu (Kosovo)

Introduction

In this international literary conversation, Nigerian poet and interviewer Emmanuel Chimezie engages Xhuli Spahiu, a poetess from Kosovo, in a reflective dialogue exploring the emotional, social, and cultural realities shaping contemporary Kosovo. The discussion moves through themes of youth, migration, silence, resilience, and the evolving role of poetry in society.

Interview

1. Emmanuel Chimezie:

What is a scene or everyday moment in Kosovo today that you think poetry still has not fully captured?

Xhuli Spahiu:

One moment that poetry has not fully captured is the long waiting in institutions—that collective silence where people no longer complain, but only wait, with a patience that hides deep exhaustion.

2. Emmanuel Chimezie:

When you walk through your community in 2026, what emotions do you most often notice among young people, and how are they reflected in your writing?

Xhuli Spahiu:

Among young people, I notice a mixture of anxiety and cautious hope. There are dreams, but also uncertainty about the future. This enters my writing as contrast—light and shadow in the same line.

3. Emmanuel Chimezie:

Is there something happening silently in Kosovar society right now that you think the world is not paying attention to?

Xhuli Spahiu:

Yes, an internal departure—not only physical emigration, but also people’s emotional withdrawal from society. People are closing themselves off more than it appears.

4. Emmanuel Chimezie:

What kinds of conversations are taking place among ordinary people in Kosovo that poets should listen to more carefully?

Xhuli Spahiu:

Conversations about leaving, about opportunities abroad, about disappointment with the system, but also about the small things that keep life going—family, coffee, friendship. Poets should listen to these carefully.

5. Emmanuel Chimezie:

Can you describe a recent experience that changed the direction of your poetry or thinking?

Xhuli Spahiu:

A casual conversation with a young person who had decided to leave changed my perspective. It was not only his decision, but the calm way he accepted leaving—as something ordinary.

6. Emmanuel Chimezie:

What is currently missing in the way Kosovo is represented in poetry or storytelling?

Xhuli Spahiu:

What is missing is sufficient support for poets and writers in general. Creators are often left on the margins, without stable institutional support or real spaces to develop their voice. This makes it harder for literature to grow and have continuity.

7. Emmanuel Chimezie:

In your everyday environment, what feels strongest right now: hope, exhaustion, or resilience—and why?

Xhuli Spahiu:

I think resilience is the strongest. People continue, despite everything. There is exhaustion, but there is no giving up.

8. Emmanuel Chimezie:

How do people around you react when they hear you are a poet in today’s Kosovo?

Xhuli Spahiu:

The reactions are different—some see it with admiration, others with surprise, as if it is something unusual or not practical. But there are also those who take it seriously and value it.

9. Emmanuel Chimezie:

What is a misconception about life in Kosovo that you think poetry could correct?

Xhuli Spahiu:

One misconception is that life here is only hard or dark. Poetry can also show the beauty, humor, and warmth that exist alongside the difficulties.

10. Emmanuel Chimezie:

If you had to write a line describing Kosovo’s emotional state right now, how would it sound?

Xhuli Spahiu:

“A place that breathes between staying and leaving.”

Closing Note

This conversation reveals a Kosovo that exists beyond headlines—a society shaped by movement, silence, resilience, and emotional complexity. Through poetry, these realities find language, depth, and dignity.