Koja e Kuçit is considered one of the seven Northern Albanian

Albanians

Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...

 tribes of Malësia

Malësia

Malësia or Malësia e Madhe, is a historical geographical region in northern Albania and eastern Montenegro. It consists of an area of land that stretches from the southeast of Podgorica to northern shores of Lake Scutari, and includes much of the Malësi e Madhe District of Albania...

. Koja is the Albanian Catholic

Roman Catholic Church

The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...

 tribe of Koja e Kuçit, the name derived from a combination of the Albanian Koja clan, within the Kuči

KUCI

KUCI is a college radio station broadcasting a Variety format. Licensed to Irvine, California, USA, the station serves the Orange County area...

 mountain. The people of this tribe are said to be descendants of the tribe of Kelmend. 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

Pretash Zeka Ulaj

Pretash Zeka Ulaj is one of the most prominent Albanian heroes of the 1911 Battle of Deçiq , near Tuzi, in which Albanians defeated the Turks...

 from Koja was one of the Malësor leaders that led the region to its freedom when fighting in 1911 in the Battle of Deçiq

Battle of Deçiq

The Battle of Deçiq marked the beginning of the turning point for Albanian liberty. It was in this battle that the Flag of Albania was raised for the first time after 442 years of Ottoman occupation...

, alongside the famous Ded Gjo Luli

Ded Gjo Luli

Ded Gjo Luli formally known as Dedë Gjon Luli Dedvukaj , was born in Traboin-Hoti . He hails from the tribe of Hot located in the region of Malësia...

 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.

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
  Plav
  Plav Plav Plav (Montenegrin, (Albanian: Plav) is a town in north-eastern Montenegro. It has a population of 3,615 (2003 census).Plav is the centre of the municipality (population of 13,805),-Geography:...
  
  -Gusinje
  Gusinje
  Gusinje is a small town in Montenegro. According to the 2003 census, the town has a population of 1,704.-History:The history and origins of Gusinje are unknown prior to the Ottoman conquests. Before the Ottoman Turks took control of the region, Plav-Gusinje was under the control of various...
  
  
• Lucaj (Serbian truncation: L(j)ucević, Ljucović)
• Krcaj (Serbian truncation: Krcić) - Descendants of the Gorvokaj / Gorvoković clan. Several descendants immigrated to Plav
  Plav
  Plav Plav Plav (Montenegrin, (Albanian: Plav) is a town in north-eastern Montenegro. It has a population of 3,615 (2003 census).Plav is the centre of the municipality (population of 13,805),-Geography:...
  
  -Gusinje
  Gusinje
  Gusinje is a small town in Montenegro. According to the 2003 census, the town has a population of 1,704.-History:The history and origins of Gusinje are unknown prior to the Ottoman conquests. Before the Ottoman Turks took control of the region, Plav-Gusinje was under the control of various...
  
  
• Gjokaj (Serbian truncation: Đokić, Đoković)
• Gjeloshaj (Serbian truncation: Đelošević)
• 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
  Pretash Zeka Ulaj
  Pretash Zeka Ulaj is one of the most prominent Albanian heroes of the 1911 Battle of Deçiq , near Tuzi, in which Albanians defeated the Turks...
  
   - Lead the clan at the Battle of Deçiq
  Battle of Deçiq
  The Battle of Deçiq marked the beginning of the turning point for Albanian liberty. It was in this battle that the Flag of Albania was raised for the first time after 442 years of Ottoman occupation...
  
  .
• Pretash Uli Nucullaj - I pari Bajraktar en Koj Kucit (Va ka llan Bajrakun shpis 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

Song of Koja

Dal-kadal' more Shkodër, Jasma njofsh Kojn'e Vogël.

Koja e Vogël ni pakic', Muor bajrakun ën Deçiq.

Kush a djal' çi lyp'belan? Ky Dok Preçi then kalan,

Baj juriç e kcen pas gurit, Qysh po lufton burri burrit!

Ën val' t' timit e ën flak' t'barotit, Ka pet ën turr si trimat motit.

Kush po lufton ën ato gropa? Marash Luca e Kol Doka,

Kuku briti zan' e malit! Petka Gjeto Toma, pika e djalit.

Kush po lufton ën ato qeta? Ky Tom Uci e Gjeto Gjeka.

Ku mas fortit u derll gjaku? Petka trimi Ucit — Caku,

Tye u vra me turq ën Deçiq, Shtat sokola u ban viq.

Jari tjetrin ën turr e buor, At'er Deçiqin Koja e muor.