Koja e Kuçit
Koja e Kuçit is 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 tribe, within the Kuči mountain.[citation needed] 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.[citation needed] 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.[citation needed] 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.[citation needed] The first book that was written solely about Koja e Kucit is "Koja ndër shekuj" by Fran Mirash Gjeloshaj, published in Rochester Michigan on November 15, 2010.[citation needed] The highest peak in Koja is Sjeviku and has height altitude 1,150 m. The lowest point is at 600m.
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 Marashaj / Maraševići.
- Nucullaj (Serbian truncation: Nuculović) - Descendants of Pak Nika from Selcë. Nikaj/Nikići and Pajaj/Pajovići descend from the Nucullaj/Nuculović tribe.
- 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 tribe. Several descendants immigrated to Plav-Gusinje
- Gjokaj (Serbian truncation: Đokić, Đoković)
- Gjeloshaj (old Bake) (Serbian truncation: Đelošević(Bakić) - First and original tribe to inhabit Koja e Kuçit.
- Gorvokaj (Serbian truncation: Gorvokaj) - Krcaj Krcić tribe descends from the Gorvokajt / Gorvokovići.
- Nikaj (Serbian truncation: Nikić) - Descendants of Nikë (Nikollë) of the Nucullaj / Nuculović tribe.
- 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 tribe at the Battle of Deçiq.
- Viktor Marku Ula - International relations scholar and Political Advisor to former Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Çeku 2006 – 2008 during the negotiation phases of the Ahtisaari Plan through the 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence.
- Pretash Uli Nucullaj - I pari Bajraktar en Koj Kucit (E ka llane Bajrakun shtepis Zek Niks Ulaj)
- Gjeto Toma Kolcaj
- Cakë Uci Ivanaj
- Tomë Uci Ivanaj
- Tom Lulashi Gjeloshaj - First Albanian from Koja to become a commercial airline pilot
- Nikë Preci Gjeloshaj
- Gjeto Gjeka Ivanaj
- Kolë Doka Marashaj
- Amat Baka (First known in Bake-Gjeloshaj family tree)
- Dokë Preci Krcaj
- Kocic Koca
- Anton Nikaj - Professional Poker Player
One of the songs written about Koja
Shpatat e Deçiqit
Prej ka t’kem o more vlla,
More korb, o ën hava?
Prej Deçiqit sot u çova,
nalt ën Kojë o fluturova.
More korb o more vlla,
jata kojas a i ke pa?
A i ke tije a i ke pa?
More korb o ti n’hava!
Ti për kojas mos ëm dvet,
shtatë prej tyne sot kan metë.
N’Deçi o vet i kam pa,
shtatë sokola kur kan ra.
Kjosh i bardh, o more vlla,
bela mirë o ti s’ke pa!?
Mirë kam pa o raftëm pika,
mos me pa, o vet pse s’ika!?
Ooooo, pooo, joooo,
eee! joo, pooo, joooo...!
ja i kojas kangën knou,
kangën burrash përfundou.
Za bylbylash prit bela,
briti turku ën kala,
qite kryet, o more vlla,
a e ke t’bukur me ta pa?
Ater briti jaj luftari,
ky Dedë Prëçi kryetari,
tanë përpara kur i thirri,
turkun mirë, o aj e dridhi.
Tanë përpara si sokola,
para tyne bajraktari,
Prëtash Zeka aj i pari,
aj i pari bajraktari.
Rrezja e shpatave m’ka ra,
m’ka ra e nuk kam pa,
sa shumë turkun more motër,
kta sokola paskan vra!
Koja e vogël sot u çua,
për bajrakun me luftua.
Nuk asht Koja ma e vogel,
nuk asht Koja i pakicë,
muor bajrakun ën Deçiq.
Prej Deçiqit këtë bajrakun,
këtë bajrakun ju e gzoshi!
Faqe bardhë për gjithmonë,
faqe bardhë e trima kjoshi!”
Pal M. Gjeloshaj
