Sofka Nikolić: The rise and fall of Yugoslavia’s first folk star

Sofka Nikolić, born in 1907 near Šabac, was a pre-war Yugoslav folk music phenomenon. After starting her career in local taverns, she achieved massive success, recording 55 records within an eighteen-month period. Her popularity extended across Europe, with performances in major cities such as Berlin, Paris, Budapest, and Vienna.

Nikolić was recognized as one of the most successful musicians of her era, trailing only the Italian singer Enrico Caruso in total record sales at the time. Known as the “Queen of Skadarlija,” she maintained social connections with prominent intellectuals and artists, including Branislav Nušić and Tina Ujević.

Despite her immense wealth and fame, her career was effectively ended by personal tragedy. Following the death of her daughter in 1936, Nikolić reportedly lost her desire to perform, marking a sharp decline from her peak as a cultural icon.