Rona Nishliu (born 25 August 1986) is a Kosovo-Albanian singer and songwriter. She came to international prominence after representing Albania in the

Eurovision Song Contest 2012 The Eurovision Song Contest 2012 was the 57th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Baku, Azerbaijan, following the country's victory at the with the song "Running Scared (Ell & Nikki song), Running Scared" by Ell & Nikki, El ...

Baku Baku (, ; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Azerbaijan, largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and in the Caucasus region. Baku is below sea level, which makes it the List of capital ci ...

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, where she placed fifth and achieved the best placement for Albania to date.

Early life and career

2004–2012: Early life and beginnings

Rona Nishliu was raised in her birth town Mitrovica, but moved with her family to

Pristina Pristina or Prishtina ( , ), . is the capital and largest city of Kosovo. It is the administrative center of the eponymous municipality and District of Pristina, district. In antiquity, the area of Pristina was part of the Dardanian Kingdo ...

at the age of thirteen due to the political situation in her hometown. In 2004 she entered "Ethet e së premtës mbrëma" (Friday night's fevers), a similar show to '' Idols''. She successfully passed the first rounds and entered the live shows, where she finished Top 5. After the show, she worked on Radio Blue Sky in Prishtina as a presenter. In 2004, Rona teamed up with Vesa Luma and Teuta Kurti to enter the 43rd edition of Festivali i Këngës, for a chance to represent Albania in the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest with "Flakareshë". The trio were qualified for the final night held on 18 December 2004 but lost to Ledina Çelo who was declared the winner.

2012: Eurovision Song Contest

Nishliu represented Albania in the

after winning the national selection on 29 December 2011 with the entry " Suus". She is the first singer from Kosovo to represent Albania in the contest. Because of the Qafa e Vishës bus tragedy, RTSH deferred the first semi-final by more than two hours on 22 May, resulting in low ratings during Nishliu's appearance. Albania used its jury votes to vote for the other 17 countries in the semi-final, and it used the jury votes again on 26 May. RTK also did not air highlights from the first semi-final due to the bus crash. She ended up winning fifth place in the final with 146 points; Albania's best result to date. She received Albanian citizenship on 12 January 2012.

2013–present

Nishliu was committed to her humanitarian work immediately after Eurovision. She became a member of a project called "Bonu cool, mos bjer shpullë" (Be cool, don't slap!), a project that raises gender awareness. She released a song especially for this occasion called "Se vetëm zemra flet saktë" ''(Because only the heart speaks right)'' which speaks against adolescent gender violence, produced and penned by Rona herself. The song is part of a wide public awareness campaign led by the Kosovo Gender Studies Centre. It was supported and financed by the

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...

. On 18 September 2014, Rona Nishliu held a concert in

Belgrade Belgrade is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Serbia, largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers and at the crossroads of the Pannonian Basin, Pannonian Plain and the Balkan Peninsula. T ...

Serbia , image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg , national_motto = , image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg , national_anthem = () , image_map = , map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...

to promote the Kosovar culture, part of the "Mirëdita, dobar dan" festival. She received a standing ovation from the public. In 2017, she became a coach on the sixth series of '' The Voice of Albania''.

Public image

Albania Albania ( ; or ), officially the Republic of Albania (), is a country in Southeast Europe. It is located in the Balkans, on the Adriatic Sea, Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea, and shares land borders with Montenegro to ...

Kosovo Kosovo, officially the Republic of Kosovo, is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe with International recognition of Kosovo, partial diplomatic recognition. It is bordered by Albania to the southwest, Montenegro to the west, Serbia to the ...

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and

North Macedonia North Macedonia, officially the Republic of North Macedonia, is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe. It shares land borders with Greece to the south, Albania to the west, Bulgaria to the east, Kosovo to the northwest and Serbia to the n ...

, she is known as a pop singer/musician. The audience in Pristina and Tirana know her also as an experimental jazz singer. Her interpretation is characterized with nuances of soul music influences as well. Her vocal range and interpretative power are her strongest points.

Philanthropy

While a student, Nishliu organised a few humanitarian concerts, including one to help displaced Kosovo Albanian families of Mitrovica living in poverty. In 2009, she took place as a guest lecturer in UNDP Kosovo's activity on Awareness Raising on the Importance of Volunteerism for the Youngsters in

Vushtrri Vushtrri ( sq-definite, Vushtrria; sr-Cyrl, Вучитрн, ''Vučitrn'') is a List of cities in Kosovo, city and Municipalities of Kosovo, municipality located in the District of Mitrovica, Mitrovica District in Kosovo. According to the 2024 c ...

. She is an activist for the National Association of Autism in Kosovo, as well as Chairperson of the Institute for Sustainability and Development of Youth in Kosovo.

Discography

Singles

*"Flakareshë" ''(Slap)'' (with Vesa Luma and Teuta Kurti) *"Të lashë" ''(I left you)'' *"Shenja" ''(The sign)'' *"Eja" ''(Come)'' *"Veriu" ''(The north)'' *"A ka arsye?" ''(Is there any reason?)'' (ft. Bim Bimma) *"Shko pastro pas saj" ''(Go clean after her)'' *"Zonja Vdekje" ''(Mrs. Death)'' *" Suus" *"Se vetëm zemra flet saktë" ''(Because only the heart speaks right)''

Awards and nominations

Kënga Magjike , - , , 2006 , , "Shenja" , TV Klan Prize , , - , , 2009 , , "Humbja" , Best Vocal , Poli Fest Awards , - , , 2007 , , "Veriu" , First Prize , Video Fest Awards , - , , 2008 , , "Shko pastro pas saj" , Best Pop , Festivali i Këngës , - , rowspan="2", 2011 , rowspan="2", " Suus" , First Prize , , - , Best Interpreter ,

, - , , 2012 , , " Suus" , Contestant ,

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nishliu, Rona 1986 births Living people Albanian jazz singers 21st-century Albanian women singers Kosovan singers Musicians from Mitrovica, Kosovo Kosovo Albanians Kosovan emigrants to Albania Festivali i Këngës winners Eurovision Song Contest entrants