Folësit

Folësit, or the storytellers, is a term used in Albanian-speaking cultures to denote narrators who preserve and perform oral literature. The word is formed from fol 'to speak' with the agent suffix -ës and the definite article -it, yielding folësit, meaning "the storyteller" or "the storytellers." In traditional contexts, folësit function as custodians of folklore, epic poetry, legends, proverbs, and genealogies. They may recite long heroic cycles such as the kreshnikët, tell folk tales, and relay current events, often at weddings, markets, religious feasts, or community gatherings. Performance typically relies on strong, rhythmic speech, mnemonic devices, and audience participation; the craft is usually learned through apprenticeship and social transmission rather than formal schooling.

Historically, folësit played a key role in preserving communal memory in predominantly oral societies, especially before widespread literacy. As literacy and print culture expanded, the role of professional oral narrators declined in many areas, though they continued to exist as entertainers, educators, or cultural specialists. In contemporary Albanian-speaking regions—comprising Albania, Kosovo, parts of North Macedonia and Montenegro—folësit survive as a cultural practice and are sometimes featured in festivals, folklore programs, and media. Academic interest in folësit treats them as a part of oral tradition, exploring performance styles, repertoire, and the social functions of storytelling.

See also: Albanian folklore, oral tradition, epic poetry, kreshnikët.