Pavlina Nika (1931-2011) | Golden Voices of Albanian Microphone!

6 August 2025

In memory of that golden generation, “pioneers” of Albanian light music, the pure music of art and civilized European culture. Without a doubt, Albania has also had wonderful “Voices” of the microphone, from those who laid the “foundation stone” in this genre, to the later followers of the 80s and 90s.

Our art lovers should never forget them, but the new generation should also pay attention and recognize who these “Voices” were, especially today when our music has been degraded, not only losing all of its identity, but even further, being transformed into a genre where it is difficult to call it music of art and culture.
However, one of the “Golden Voices of the Albanian Microphone”
was also Pavlina Nikaj (1931 – 2011).

VIDEO BELOW:

A few minutes with singer Pavlina Nika in songs
___________

__
Pavlina Nikaj was born in the city of Korça, on May 15, 1931. Together with Anita Take and Pjetër Gjergji, they can be considered the “pioneers” of the interpretation of Albanian light music. If she had been born elsewhere, she would have stood fearlessly in the ranks of Marlene Dietrich or Greta Garbo. On stage she had a nur, which few had.

She first sang in 1945 in the trade union choir in Korça, later in Radio Korça. In 1950 she was appointed as a professional singer at the Army Ensemble, while in 1957 she became a professional singer at the Tirana Variety Theater, where she sang for nearly 20 years. With a clear, purple, powerful and very emotional alto voice, she began to perform with great success light songs by Albanian and foreign composers.

Likewise, she has in her repertoire many Korça, patriotic, partisan songs, etc. At the beginning of her work, she worked in the People’s Army Ensemble and, later, with the creation of the Tirana Estrada, she joined this theater. Many composers began to write new songs with her voice as their destination. Together with Anita Taken, they formed the unique duet “Nikaj-Take”.

She has participated in many artistic activities, concerts, festivals, spectacles, folk festivals, etc. With her songs and performances, she has fully deserved the sympathy and applause of the public.

Her repertoire includes songs that have remained in the golden fund of Albanian “light music”, such as: “Udhet e lumtrisë”, “S’të harroj”, “Kënga ime të kshtohet ty”, “Një lule”, “Kujtim i dhremit”, “Ç’po dremit liqeni i kaltër”, “Midis gulshës ke një pënki”, “Autobus”, “Kujtimet e studentit”, Shtëpia e putërimit”, “La Paloma”, “Me duar të arta”, “Gaz zemra ime”, “Trëndafil mos u gërro”, etc.

She is also known for her extensive activity in the performance of Vlorë folk songs. Her last appearance on stage was in a 1986 recital at the Estrada Theater in Tirana, directed by Kosta Kamberi.

Pavlina Nikaj was decorated by the President of the Republic with the “Naim Frashëri” order, in 2005, and in 2005 she was awarded the title of “Honorary Citizen” of Tirana.