Rahovec

Rahovec (Template:Lang-sq-definite) or Orahovac (Template:Lang-sr-Cyrl), is a town and municipality located in the District of Gjakova in Kosovo. According to the 2024 census, the town of Rahovec has 13,642 inhabitants, while the municipality has 41,799 inhabitants.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Etymology

The name of the town and municipality is of Serbian origin and is derived from the Proto-Slavic word orěhъ, meaning nux (English: nut).<ref name="skok">Template:Citation</ref> The name Rahovec comes from an Albanised pronunciation of Orahovac.

Geography

Rahovec is located in western-central part of Kosovo and is part of the district of Gjakova. To the north, it shortly borders Klina, to the northeast Malisheva, to the southeast Suhareka and Mamusha, to the south Prizren, and to the west Gjakova. The distance from the capital city of Kosovo, Prishtina, is approximately Template:Convert. The municipality covers an area of approximately Template:Convert and it includes 35 villages.

Demographics

Template:Historical populations According to the last census of 2024 of Kosovo Agency of Statistics, the municipality of Rahovec has 41,799 while the town in itself has 13,642 inhabitants.

Of the 41,799 inhabitants, 40,491 (96.87%) are Albanians and other ethnicities mostly include Serbs and other ethnic groups.<ref name=":1" />

Local Pidgin Language

The town was known for a language known locally as "Rahovecionshe" or "Raveqki", which is a mixture of Albanian, Serbian and Bulgarian. Its use has declined rapidly after the Kosovo War and nowadays it is nearly extinct.<ref name=":0" /> It is thought that this pidgin language developed as a way for Albanian grape farmers to sell their products to wine producers, who were predominately Slavic-speaking.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>

Economy

File:Vreshtat e Rahovecit.jpg

Rahovec's vineyards

Rahovec is especially known for its vineyards and wines.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Notable people

• Shkëlzen Maliqi (born 1947), Kosovo Albanian former politician, born in Rahovec.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Ajet Shehu (born 1990), English footballer, born in Rahovec .
• Ukshin Hoti (1943–1999), Kosovo Albanian activist, politician, and philosopher, born in Krusha e Madhe.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Ali Sokoli (1921–1974), Yugoslav physician, born in Rahovec.
• Jovan Grković-Gapon (1879–1912), Serbian Chetnik, born in Rahovec.
• Lazar Kujundžić (1880–1905), Serbian Chetnik commander, born in Rahovec.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Kida (born 1997), Kosovo Albanian female singer
• Bylbyl Sokoli (born 1957), Kosovan football manager and politician

External links

• Rahoveci24.com Template:In lang
• Rahoveci.NET Template:In lang
• BBC article concerning March 2004 riots
• Statistical Office of Kosovo (SOK) Template:In lang
• International Organization for Mifration (IOM)
• Survivors describe massacre in Orahovac
• Human Rights Publication-Massacre in Pastasel, Orahovac
• Photographic Evidence of Kosovo Genocide and Conflict