Fatime Sokoli, a folk singer from Dragobia in the Tropoja district, was born in 1947. She was awarded the title “Merited Artist.” At the age of 10, she joined the “Valbona” Folkloric Ensemble in her hometown. After completing her studies at the “Jordan Misja” artistic high school, she worked as a music teacher at the 8-year school “Besëlidhja e Malësisë” in the city of Bajram Curri from 1967 to 1987. She became well-known for her numerous songs with epic and lyrical content from the folklore music of the Gjakova Highlands and beyond. Fatime performed on the çiftelia (a traditional Albanian stringed instrument), delivering to the audience with her deep and melodic voice strong emotions and values. She participated in the National Festivals of Folk Songs and Dances in Gjirokastra in 1973, 1978, and 1982, where she won first and second prizes. She had an active career with numerous concerts in Kosovo, North Macedonia, Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, Turkey, and more. Some notable parts of her repertoire are preserved in the Albanian Radio and Television Archive. Fatime Sokoli passed away in 1987. She was (posthumously) awarded the title “Great Master of Labor.” (In the photograph: Fatime Sokoli)
Text: Albanian Encyclopedic Dictionary, Vol. 3, Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2009, page 2368.
Photography: © https://www.teksteshqip.com/komuniteti/dergofoto.php?aid=3727&category=allart
Graphic processing: AHCF
