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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 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. Highest peak in Koja is Sjeviku and has height altitude 1150 m. Lowest point is at 600m.

Origin of name "Koja"

It was noted that in medieval documents Ban Koja name was mentioned as the first of Surname "Bake" (Gjeloshaj). In Albanian lands there are old names know as Ban and Koja. An example is: Ban Hoti, Ban Keqi, Ban Koja, Koj Zakarija, Sharan Koja from village of Kuçi Lijeshta, now this fraternity there does not exist anymore. If Ban has been known, then his father Koja also could be known. There was a tradition in our land that only the father's name is mentioned, when thought...as eg Koja-Kojajt, Luca-Lucajt, Ula-Ulaj etc.. And in most cases will be referred to Koja, not Bani, and so long name village has remained Koja.

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 (old Bake) (Serbian truncation: Đelošević(Bakić)
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 (E ka llane Bajrakun shtepis 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

First intelectuals who completed University degrees

1. Bake (Gjeloshaj); • Bakoçeviqët: Mark Kole Bakoçeviq, Completed faculty of theology-Senj Croatia, in 1939. Mark's family moved to Ad of Ulcinj, in 1918. • Gjeloshaj: Kole Mirash Gjeloshaj has completed Electro-technical engineering Faculty 1967 in Podgorica.

2. Gorvokajt: Kolë Prëkë Gorvokaj has completed the Faculty of Philosophy 1986 in Pristina.

3. Gjokaj: Gjokë Prëlë Lucë Gjokaj, has a law degree in 1936 in Belgrade. His family moved as colonialist, for economic reasons, during the First Balkan War in Kosovo, Pec district (Dobrushë). Before World War II he worked as a lawyer. Entered into L.N.Ç. and was commissionaire of partisan brigade foreseen as the battalion commander, but was killed in the war against Germans in mid-October of 1944 in the district of Bello Brdo, in Kopaonik.

4. Ivanaj: Nua Gjokë Ivanaj, earned a law degree in 1982 in Podgorica.

5. Kolçajt: Gjoko Gjekë Kolçaj, has earned a law degree in 1944. His family had moved from Koja and established near Podgorica, in 1929. Gjoku was was the only Albanian who was chosen by High Court in municipality of Podgorica, then Titograd. During the preparation of Besëlidhjes Malësisë, as a lawyer, he was a member of the committee.

6. Kërcajt: Kolë Zef Kërcaj has completed Economy Faculty in 1975 in Podgorica.

7. Lucajt: Eleonora Palë Lucaj has completed Economy Faculty in 1985 Pristina.

8. Marashajt: Zef Malotë Marashaj, has earned a law degree in 1964 in Skopje, Macedonia.

9. Nucullajt: Malotë Gjekë Nucullaj, has a university degree in Electro Engineering 1966 in Podgorica.

10. Ulaj: Prëkë Gjeto Lul Ulaj-Uli, has completed higher High School of Financial Studies in times of king A. Zogu in Romë, Italy. Gjeto Uli has abandon Koja in early twentieth century. He is the author of "The Smajl Tringa" book.

Song of 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

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