2026-10-21 17:36:23Lifestyle SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

Qamile Marra, the woman from Kuçova who may be the oldest person in the world, continues to attract international media attention. Her story has been featured in a number of articles in foreign media, and recently even BBC Global Women has paid attention to her.

According to official documents, Qamile Marra, now 117 years old, was born on August 19, 1909 and is two days older than Briton Ethel Caterham, recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest woman in the world.

Her story is extraordinary not only for her age, but also for the way she lived her life.

Born during the Ottoman Empire, Qamile Marra has experienced wars, major historical changes, and the fall of the communist dictatorship in Albania.

She has lived her entire life in the village of Ferras, near Kuçova. She wakes up early, takes care of the yard, flowers and chickens, drinks her coffee and walks in the orchard near her house, often picking pomegranates.

"Life is beautiful, like Mount Tomorr in bloom," she said, expressing her simple philosophy on life.

When asked about the secret to longevity, her answer is equally simple: You live as long as God has ordained!

According to her son, Hysen, 80, his mother is in good health and has never used medication. He says that the authorities even cut off her pension when she turned 100, as they did not believe she was still alive. The family had to present documents and evidence to prove that Qamilja was still alive.

Documents the family has, including a birth certificate issued in 1945, a passport from 1978 and a recent identity card, all show the same date of birth. However, officially confirming such a rare age remains a difficult process.

Recently, the Albanian government granted her a special state pension in honor of her age.

Five generations of a family

Qamile Marra has given birth to seven children and has seen five generations of her family grow up.

Her husband passed away 36 years ago, but she still remembers with a smile their marriage, which, although arranged, turned into a very strong relationship.

"I've seen them get engaged, get married, and build their homes and lives," she says of her family. The presence of people in her home is one of the things that makes her happiest.

Despite the attention and the opportunity to make world record history, she doesn't seem to care much about titles.

At the age of 117, Qamile Marra continues to enjoy life among family and nature.

 


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