Koja e Kuçit

Koja e Kuçit is considered one of the seven Northern Albanian tribes of Malësia. Koja is the Albanian Catholic tribe of Koja e Kuçit, the name derived from a combination of the Albanian Koja clan, within the Kuči mountain. The people of this tribe are said to be descendants of the tribe of Kelmend. The people of Koja are referred to as Kojan(e). Koja's sons and daughters, together with other Christian Albanians and Slavs, gave their lives fighting Turks for centuries to keep their Catholic identities alive during 500 years of occupation. Pretash Zeka Ulaj from Koja was one of the Malësor leaders that led the region to its freedom when fighting in 1911 in the Battle of Deçiq, alongside the famous Ded Gjo Luli from Hoti. Dokë Preci Krcaj, Cakë Uci Ivanaj, Gjeto Toma Kolcaj, Tomë Uci Ivanaj, Kolë Doka Marashaj, Marash Leca Gjokaj, and Gjeto Gjeka Ivanaj are remembered as Seven Heroes of Koja for giving their lives in the Battle of Deçiq.

Surnames of Koja

• Ulaj (Serbian truncation: Uljaj / Ul(j)ević) - Flag-bearers (Bajraktarët) of the tribe. They are descendants of a certain Ulë Gjelosh, son of Gjelosh Nucul and grandson of Nucul Marku.
• Kolçaj (Serbian truncation: Koljčević) - Descendants of the Marashajt / Maraševići.
• Nucullaj (Serbian truncation: Nuculović) - Descendants of Pak Nika from Selcë. Nikajt/Nikići and Pajajt/Pajovići descend from the Nucullaj/Nuculović clan.
• Marashaj (Serbian truncation: Marašević)
• Ivanaj (Serbian truncation: Ivan(ov)ić) - Several descendants immigrated to Plav-Gusinje
• Lucaj (Serbian truncation: L(j)ucević, Ljucović)
• Krcaj (Serbian truncation: Krcić) - Descendants of the Gorvokaj / Gorvoković clan. Several descendants immigrated to Plav-Gusinje
• Gjokaj (Serbian truncation: Đokić, Đoković)
• Gjeloshaj (Serbian truncation: Đelošević)
• Gorvokaj (Serbian truncation: Gorvokaj) - Krcaj Krcić clan descends from the Gorvokajt / Gorvokovići.
• Nikaj (Serbian truncation: Nikić) - Descendants of Nikë (Nikollë) of the Nucullaj / Nuculović clan.
• Pali (Serbian truncation: Paljevic) - Originally from Berishe (Berisha E kuqe) near Puka migrated to Koja in 1500's. Descendants can be found in Ana Malit, Kelmend, Plav - Gusinje and Shkodër

Notable people

• Pretash Zeka Ulaj - Lead the clan at the Battle of Deçiq.
• Pretash Uli Nucullaj - I pari Bajraktar en Koj Kucit (Va ka llan Bajrakun shpis Zek Niks Ulaj)
• Gjeto Toma Kolcaj
• Cakë Uci Ivanaj
• Tomë Uci Ivanaj
• Nikë Preci Gjeloshaj
• Gjeto Gjeka Ivanaj
• Kolë Doka Marashaj
• Amac Baka Gjeloshaj
• Dokë Preci Krcaj
• Kocic Koca

Song of Koja

Dal-kadal' more Shkodër, Jasma njofsh Kojn'e Vogël.
Koja e Vogël ni pakic', Muor bajrakun ën Deçiq.
Kush a djal' çi lyp'belan? Ky Dok Preçi then kalan,
Baj juriç e kcen pas gurit, Qysh po lufton burri burrit!
Ën val' t' timit e ën flak' t'barotit, Ka pet ën turr si trimat motit.
Kush po lufton ën ato gropa? Marash Luca e Kol Doka,
Kuku briti zan' e malit! Petka Gjeto Toma, pika e djalit.
Kush po lufton ën ato qeta? Ky Tom Uci e Gjeto Gjeka.
Ku mas fortit u derll gjaku? Petka trimi Ucit — Caku,
Tye u vra me turq ën Deçiq, Shtat sokola u ban viq.
Jari tjetrin ën turr e buor, At'er Deçiqin Koja e muor.