Ibrahim Tukiqi

Ibrahim Tukiqi was an Albanian singer who was born in Shkodër in 1926. He studied canto at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow and graduated in 1957. He then joined the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Albania, where he performed in many classical operas such as Cavalleria rusticana, Madama Butterfly, and Rigoletto. He also sang in Albanian operas such as The girl from Kaçanik, Borana, The sold bride, Mrika, Spring, The Memory Flower, The Wake-Up, and others. He was known for his unique interpretation of popular Albanian songs, such as Kenke nuri i bukurisë, Bishtalecat palë-palë, Hajde gjyle, Mic Sokoli, and others. He received many awards, medals, and titles for his activity, such as the Second Prize in the Festival of Youth in Bucharest in 1953, the Festival of Vienna in 1958, Merited Artist of Albania in 1951, and People's Artist of Albania in 1985. He was the father of two musicians, Genc and David Tukiqi. He died in 2004 in Tirana, where a street bears his name today in his memory.