Sofka Nikolic

In the tension and glory of her astral career, she recorded many records in large numbers in the then famous record companies of Paris and Vienna. The newspapers of that time write hymns about her, and they talk about her as a musical miracle: Jugoslovenska pošta, Jugoslovenska Zastava, Vrbaske novine, Leskovačke novine, Nedeljne ilustracije, Politika, Jadranska pošta and foreign newspapers. In all the lyrics, Sofka is, they say, a great gem in the music sky of Yugoslavia.

Sofka Nikolic started her singing career very early, at the age of fourteen, so they listened to her and wondered: no younger singer, no better voice and more talent. It was soon noticed by the owners of the "Lira" cafe. Representatives of the Mostar intellectual elite, among whom were regular guests Šantić, Dučić and Ćorović, regularly visited that tavern. One evening, in the garden of the restaurant, delighted with her voice and song, Aleksa Šantić brought her the lyrics of his song "Emina" and sang to show her a melody that she easily accepted and learned. They even sang it together, because it is known that Santic was musically educated. That is how that song, thanks to Sofka, became famous outside Mostar.

With this song about the beauty Emina, Sofka immortalized the great love of the poet. Since that time, since the then Mostar, which was the center of sevdah and song, there have been a number of places of Sofka's successful guest appearances: Sarajevo, Belgrade, Zagreb, Osijek. it spread across the border and the Ocean, to America ... With an orchestra of 25 members - and with its song it burned and burned Belgrade.

After gaining fame and reputation in Sarajevo and Belgrade, there were guest appearances abroad: Sofia, Vienna, Paris, Madrid, Prague, Moscow, Rome, London and other metropolises. In Paris, she met Josephine Becker, singer and actor Rudolf Valentin and Ramon Novara. These were days of glory, splendor and wealth. All progress. She has recorded numerous records for various well-known record companies. Today, unfortunately, little of it has been preserved.

With her husband Pajo Nikolić and his orchestra, she was a guest wherever they were looking for her. That was the case until 1939. Then, all of a sudden, her defs died down and her voice fell silent forever. Her daughter Marica, a unit at the age of seventeen, died of tuberculosis. Interventions in France, Austria and Yugoslavia were in vain. She embalmed the body and built a chapel for her in the cemetery, and for herself near the cemetery a secluded house, where she lived and led a whole new life — modestly, quietly, secluded.

Back