“Qaj often every time I enter my village”, confession of Kosovo journalist living in Sweden

Three decades later, the Salihu Diamond is among the best journalists in the Scandinavian state. In 2021 he even received a prestigious award for reporting, as well as the first book on the war between teenage gangs.

I'm very happy and honored for this award which is “Vice of the Year's Year” or “Zer of the Year”. It's one of the most famous and prestigious awards a journalist can win in Sweden. It means that all the people I've met and talked to me have raised their voices with me through my book “Tills aI hand” and in my stories as a journalist at SVT. This award represents all the people who have spoken to me”, Salihu says in an exclusive interview for Clankosova.tv.

The 38-year-old, who began the journalism profession early, for 22 years covered many important developments.

I've been working as a journalist since I was 16 years old in a local newspaper in my hometown, Borange. Then I completed military service in Sweden. I worked for various newspapers in Sweden, such as “Expressen” which is one of the national newspapers here in Sweden. I worked there for 11 years. I've covered fields like crime and terrorism. I also reported on people who have gone to Syria to fight the ISIS, I have covered the war in Ukraine for a while, and I have written about terrorist attacks in Europe. I was a correspondent for my London-based newspaper and in New York”, says Salihu, now an investigative journalist at Sweden's Public Television, and is located in Stockholm capital.

My option is to meet people of different backgrounds from different parts of our society, whether they are presidents or criminals. And this is what I want about my work, because I can meet people and confess to their stories”, says the journalist.

Salihu recalls that when they settled in Sweden with his family, they quickly integrated into Swedish society.

I was very afraid that I could not learn Swedish at that age. Fortunately, though, I grew up in a small town that I could go to school, where I was quickly integrated. We met friends and Swedish families who were very kind to my family, we integrated into Swedish society faster than we thought. Now, as 38 years old, I won this award, which means that after 30 years in Sweden, I won this” award.

Yet, the homesickness of the diamond never fails. It even gets very excited when it comes to Batusha.

I get into my village very often because I feel like I'm home. Every year I go to Kosovo to visit my family, have my grandfather there who is 92 years old, he is my example of life to follow”.

But these visits are also emotional about how far citizens here are possible with the place where the diamond lives.

I am aware of the difficult conditions many people live in Kosovo. I am also aware of the younger generation that has left the country. They don't see any opportunities in Kosovo as far as work is concerned. I have many relatives who have been living in Kosovo for years, but they do not hope for a better future, when it comes to opportunities to find work in their professions and succeed in this regard. This is sad”