Melpomeni Mihal Çubonja (6 June 1928 – 26 October 2016) was an Albanian actress and an honored

People's Artist of Albania The People's Artist () was an honorary title for outstanding art performers of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania, whose merits were exceptional in the sphere of development of the performing arts (theatre, music, Film, cinema and art). I ...

. She has starred in films such as '' Tana'' (1958), ''Estrada në ekran'' (1968) and ''Kapedani'' (1972).

Biography

Çobani was born Melpomeni Mihal Çubonja in the Kavaja Street of

Tirana Tirana ( , ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in Albania, largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills, with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest ov ...

. Due to her involvement with the

Albanian resistance In Albania, World War II began with its invasion by Italy in April 1939. Fascist Italy set up Albania as its protectorate or puppet state. The resistance was largely carried out by Communist groups against the Italian (until 1943) and then ...

at an early age, her last name was changed to Çobani to avoid an imminent arrest from the German authorities. Soon after she passed in illegally and joined the ranks of the partisans. After the end of World War II, she started with the amateur theatrical group of Tirana, while working at the "Mihal Duri" establishment. The painter Hasan Reçi came to see her potential and included her in the theater of Tirana. In 1948, she was offered an intern position with the

National Theater of Albania The National Theatre of Albania () was the main theatre in Tirana, Albania. In March 2020, the National Theatre of Albania was selected by Europa Nostra among the 7 most endangered monuments in Europe, as an exceptional example of modern Italia ...

with the assistance of director Pandi Stillu. Meanwhile she graduated from the two-year curriculum High Artistic School (Shkolla e Lartë Dyvjeçare) affiliated with the National Theater. From then she would start to get more important roles, as

Qazim Mulleti Qazim Mulleti (1893–1956) was an Albanian politician, nationalist and mayor of Tirana from 1939 through 1940 and its prefect from 1942 to 1944. Life Early life Qazim Mulleti was born in " Sulejman Pasha" (Mulleti) neighborhood, in Tirana, Al ...

's wife in the ''Prefekti'' comedy. In 1950, she was part of the team appointed to create the

Puppet Theater A puppet is an object, often resembling a human, animal or mythical figure, that is animated or manipulated by a person called a puppeteer. Puppetry is an ancient form of theatre which dates back to the 5th century BC in ancient Greece. There ...

(Teatri i Kukullave), and two years later the State Estrada (Estrada Shtetërore). Few years later she would stop splitting her time between theater and puppet shows, and move definitely as part of the "Estrada". She would receive the titles "Merited Artist" in 1961 and "People's Artist" in 1976.
Her last role was in 1996, in the comedy ''8 persona plus'' with

Agim Qirjaqi Agim Qirjaqi (27 January 1950 – 28 March 2010) was an Albanian actor and television director. As an actor his filmography was extensive, while as a director his output was limited to some television work. He worked with a number of prominent ...

as director. She counts over 300 roles in her career, including

drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...

s, comedies, and movies.

Awards

For her participation in the World War II resistance: *Medal of Bravery (Medalje e Trimërisë) *Medal of Remembrance (Medalje e Kujtimit) For her artistic activity *Merited Artist (Artiste e Merituar), 1961 *People's Artist (Artiste e Popullit), 1976

References

1928 births 2016 deaths 20th-century Albanian actresses People's Artists of Albania Actors from Tirana Albanian resistance members {{Albania-actor-stub