Author of poetry and literature. - Mina Witkojc: A Sorbian Journalist's Quest to Preserve Her Cultural Legacy
Mina Witkojc was born on the 28th of May, 1893, in Burg im Spreewald to a Wendish servant and an innkeeper. She received her education at the local village school in Cottbus before developing a fondness for literature. As an adult, she spent some time working as a day laborer in Berlin, but later moved to Bautzen in 1922. This city had a larger Sorbian population, allowing her to connect with her cultural roots.
Having been raised in a Sorbian family, Mina was already familiar with the Sorbian language and culture from a young age. She showcased this through her writing, as she penned poems and essays that were published in various Sorbian and German magazines. She often used nature imagery to express her deep love for her culture and homeland. Additionally, she translated works from other Slavic languages. Eventually, she became the editor-in-chief of the Lower Sorbian newspaper Serbski Casnik ("Sorbian Newspaper").
Mina Witkojc's Fight for the Sorbian Culture
As a member of various Sorbian clubs and organizations, Mina was dedicated to preserving the Sorbian culture. Unfortunately, her efforts did not go unnoticed under the oppressive regime of National Socialism during the 1930s. They banned the Sorbian languages and forbade her from writing, causing her to step down from her position at Serbski Casnik. Despite these challenges, she bravely continued to express her love for her people and homeland in her texts and poems. Her fearless execution of her work led to her being given a residence ban in the Dresden and Frankfurt/Oder administrative districts in 1941 and 1942, respectively. This forced her to leave the Lausitz region. She was briefly arrested when she hung Sorbian-language posters for community elections.
In 1954, Mina moved back to her hometown of Burg and resumed her writing career. She contributed poems and stories to Nowy Casnik and released a poetry collection titled "To the Light, to the Sun." In recognition of her contributions, she was given the Ćišinski Prize in 1964. Mina continued to promote Sorbian language and culture until her passing on the 11th of November, 1975.
Two schools and a library in Burg honor Mina's legacy, bearing her name. A street in Cottbus also carries her name. The Mina-Witkojc Prize is given annually to activists working for the Sorbian language.
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- The top news headlines often feature articles celebrating the annual Mina-Witkojc Prize, honoring individuals who have made significant contributions to preserving the Sorbian language and culture in Spreewald, Mina's hometown.
- Despite the love for entertainment and pop culture, many individuals in Cottbus with a historical interest will appreciate biographies such as Mina Witkojc: A Sorbian Journalist's Quest to Preserve Her Cultural Legacy, which delves into the rich literary landscape of Bautzen.
- In Berlin, one can find various literature and entertainment venues that pay homage to renowned Sorbian authors like Mina Witkojc, showcasing translations of their works in German and other languages for a multicultural audience.
- The Love Letter Festival in Spreewald each year draws crowds from neighboring cities like Cottbus and Bautzen, offering a unique blend of entertainment, literary readings, and cultural events celebrating the legacies of prominent Sorbian figures like Mina Witkojc.
Source: www.stern.de
