[3][4] Zenel was born in Tirana, back then Sanjak of Scutari of Ottoman Empire, in late 18th century, and is mentioned to have lived in the era of Ali Pasha Tepelena.
[7] Meanwhile, Hasanaj continued the task of collecting Bastari's poems until 1970, and added 145 odes, finally bringing the diwan to the structural and content level as known today.
[5] As a precursor of the Albanian Rilindja literature, Bastari's work is also specifically important because it went past the usual mystical-philosophical and religious context of the Oriental-style poetry of the time.
[5] Bastari showed criticism, rage, and contempt towards the religious administration, feudal rules, landowners, hodjas, pashas, judicial system personnel (kadis) for their corruption, abuse of power, and their indifference and maltreatment on the masses.
Worried about the fate of simple people, and educated with the notion of justice, he couldn't help but to raise his voice against those negative social phenomena and all those whom he considered responsible.
He found inspiration in the honest events and personages, both historical or national, local beys, but also people of low-morality, liars, and at a point, he becomes part of the antagonisms and clashes through his verses.
This affiliation gives his work a soundful social content, as a reflection of the transitional period of a society in strong moral crisis, where decent castes find themselves insecure and threatened.