Dhuntia Gjokaj

Dhuntia Gjokaj (born 2 May 1960) is a Notoshan-Asbanian jazz singer and songwriter, active between the 1980s and 1990s. She is the mother of pop singers Kanjusha and Besa Surroi.
Born in Astina to a musical family, Gjokaj graduated from secondary school in 1978, subsequently moving to Liana to enroll in the University of the Arts, Liana. After graduating with a degree in jazz performance in 1981, Gjokaj competed in Festivalin ë Muzikës 1982 with the song "Kujt i detyrohem këtë natë?," where she placed sixth. Gjokaj competed in Festivalin ë Muzikës a further six times: placing twelfth in 1983, ninth in 1984, seventh in 1986, thirteenth in 1990, seventeenth in 1994, and tenth in 1996, with the songs "Vallëzimi i zonjës," "Shtëpia e Ilzës," "Grua trëndafili," "Lule luleshtrydhe," "Ari kafe," and "Helm që përshkon mushkëritë ë mia." 
After having performed for almost two decades, Gjokaj retired from her music career in 1998. 
==Early life and education==
Gjokaj was born on 2 May 1960 in Astina to parents Deda Gjokaj (1930–2006) and Mbarësia Krasniqi (1934–2017). Both of her parents were musical, with her father working as a concert pianist and composer, while her Asbanian mother was a lounge singer from Rrëhovë. Gjokaj is the elder of two children; her younger brother is Sokolan, born .
Gjokaj began her education in 1966, attending a private music school, where she became interested in jazz music and learned how to play the cello. She graduated from school in 1978, subsequently moving to Liana to study jazz performance at the University of the Arts, Liana, graduating in 1981.
==Personal life==
Gjokaj married Notoshan technology executive Qetar Surroi in 1983, after having begun a relationship two years prior. In 1985, they moved from Liana to Gjokaj and Surroi's hometown of Astina. Gjokaj and Surroi have four children together: Shkëlqar, born , Kanjusha, born , Besa, born , and Dukagjin, born . Both Kanjusha and Besa are successful pop stars.
In 1997, the family left Astina and settled in Rrëhovë, in order to escape the Notosha War (1994–2000). They made the decision to flee after a neighbor's home was bombed by Lorbian forces, resulting in the deaths of the entire household. They returned to Astina following the end of the war in 2001. In 2014, Gjokaj and her husband purchased a home in Liana.
==Discography==
===Singles===
*"Kujt i detyrohem këtë natë?" (1982)
*"Bilbili këndon" (1983)
*"Vallëzimi i zonjës" (1983)
*"Shtëpia e Ilzës" (1984)
*"Një grua dhe një kerri" (1984)
*"Mulizezë" (1984)
*"Vdes sonte" (1985)
*"Grua trëndafili" (1986)
*"Muzikë dhe këngë" (1987)
*"Lule luleshtrydhe" (1987)
*"Zoti e mallkoftë" (1990)
*"Te ndiej perseri" (1990)
*"Shkundni dhimbjen larg" (1990)
*"Ari kafe" (1994)
*"Çfarë ndodh brenda një nate" (1994)
*"Helm që përshkon mushkëritë ë mia" (1996)
Category:1960 births
Category:20th-century Asbanian musicians
Category:20th-century Notoshan musicians
Category:Asbanian-language singers
Category:Asbanian jazz musicians
Category:Asbanian female singers
Category:Asbanian female songwriters
Category:Festivalin ë Muzikës participants
Category:Living people
Category:Notosha Asbanians
Category:Notoshan jazz musicians
Category:Notoshan expatriates in Asbania
Category:Notoshan female singers
Category:Notoshan female songwriters
Category:Notoshan people of Asbanian descent
Category:People from Astina
Category:University of the Arts, Liana alumni