Besa Kokëdhima (; born 29 May 1986), also known mononymously as Besa, is an Albanian singer. In 2013, she won the 15th edition of . She represented Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with the song "Titan".
Life and career
Kokëdhima was born on 29 May 1986 into an Albanian family in the city of Fier then part of the People's Socialist Republic, present Albania. At the age of 15, she emigrated to the United Kingdom to pursue higher education. In 2003, Besa released her debut song "Më Beso", which was written by producer Florian Mumajesi, and featured the then newly formed Albanian group Produkt 28. The song was awarded "Mikorofoni I Artë" in 2003. Besa released her debut album, titled "Besa", in 2006. The album was written in collaboration with well-known Albanian music industry personalities, including Dorian Gjoni, Flori Mumajesi, Genti Lako, Andy DJ and Stine.
Besa has participated in a number of music contests including "Notafest", where she was awarded first prize for the R&B single "Lëshoje Hapin". In 2009, Besa participated in the Selecţia Naţională in Romania for the Eurovision Song Contest, with the English-language song "Nothin' Gonna Change", and reached the semi-finals. In 2010, Besa competed in Top Fest and won Best Female Singer with her single "Kalorësi i Natës". Since 2010, Besa has released a number of singles, including "Fishekzjarre", in 2012, "Burning" in 2013, and "Zemrën Dot Nuk ta Lexoj" in 2014. These were commercially successful and well received.
Besa has released two albums, titled “Besa për Festat” and “Ti Je Festa Ime”. The tracks were accompanied by music videos featuring Besa and the National Orchestra. The album also featured a Christmas Version of the song “Tatuazh ne Zemer”. The album “Ti Je Festa Ime” received positive reviews, with one article calling the album ‘one of the most well-received projects of the year’. In 2013, Besa won Kënga Magjike. Besa has been a judge on the Albanian television show The Voice of Albania since 2017.
Besa made her debut in France with her French ballad "En Equilibre" in June 2022, which was positively received. "En Equilibre" is the first of her upcoming debut album produced within the French music industry. In 2023, she was selected to compete in the Festivali i Këngës 62 with the song "Zemrën n'dorë", where she won the public vote and was selected to represent in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. At the contest, the song was performed in an English version, titled "Titan". Besa failed to qualify from the second semi-final, placing 15th out of 16 with 14 points. In 2025, she competed to represent San Marino in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 with the song "Tiki" but placed 6th in the Sammarinese national selection. That year, she also released several singles and collaborations, including “Look at Ya”, “Ring My Bell”, “Përgjithmonë” with Buci, “Nihna” with Tiri Gjoci, “Rrena” with Anxhela Peristeri and Marin, “Alina” and “Ylli Polar” featuring DJ Iljano.
In 2026, she released “Ani mori Nuse” with MC Kresha and Nostalgia, a collection of previously recorded material from earlier in her career. In 2026, she also released ADN, a live-recorded ballad album.
Public image and advocacy Beyond her music career, Besa has been involved in public advocacy related to animal welfare, domestic violence awareness, women’s rights, equality and broader social causes. She has helped stray animals and has taken part in public protests for animal rights, as well as causes connected to equality, domestic violence, women and social justice.
Awards and recognition YearWork / RoleRecognition2003“Më beso” with Produkt 28First Prize — Mikrofoni i Artë2005“Zonja dhe Zotërinj” Radio Hit Award — Mikrofoni i Artë2006“Lëshoje Hapin”First Prize — Notafest 2006“Tani të dua”Best Dance — Kënga Magjike2007“Pa yllin tënd”Jon Music Award — Kënga Magjike2007“Unik”Best Pop & Rock — Top Fest 2008“Engjëjt vrasin njëlloj”Winner — Top Fest 52008“Engjëjt vrasin njëlloj”Public Vote — Top Fest 52010“Kalorësi i Natës”Best Female Singer — Top Fest 2010“Kalorësi i Natës”Best Video Award — Videofest Kosovo2010Stage performanceInternational Stage Performance Award — Ohrid Fest / Ohrid Troubadours2011“Botën do ndryshoja”Critics Award — Kënga Magjike2011“Botën do ndryshoja”Third Prize — Kënga Magjike2012“Fishekzjarre”Top Albania Radio Award — Top Fest2013“Tatuazh në zemër”Winner — Kënga Magjike 152017The Voice of AlbaniaCoach; voted audience’s favourite coach2023“Zemrën n’dorë”Public vote winner — Festivali i Këngës 62 / Albania Eurovision selection2024“Titan”Albania’s entry — Eurovision Song Contest 20242025“Tiki”6th place — San Marino Song Contest2025Public / cultural recognitionCivic & Cultural Excellence Recognition Award — Municipality of Himara
Discography
Albums
Besa (2006) Evolution (2011) Besa për festat (2013) Ti je festa ime (2014) X (2016) Stubborn (2019) Complicated (2024) Rebel (2025) Nostalgia (2026) Adn (2026)
Singles
As lead artist
Title Year Peak chart positions Album or EP ALBNote: "The Top List" are the charts conducted by Top Channel since December 2015. For peak positions in Albania: For "123": For "C'est la vie": "" 2003 rowspan="24" Besa "" 2005 "" 2006 "" rowspan="50" "" 2007 "" "" 2008 "" "Nothin' Gonna Change" 2009 "" 2010 "" "" "" 2011 "Always On My Mind" 2012 "" "" 2013 "" "" 2014 "" "" "Arabia (Faj)" "Amelia" 2015 "14" "All In" "Kameleon" 2016 — "123" 8 "Hangover" — "" 2017 — "" — "Amor" 2018 — "La La La" 2019 — "" — "" 2020 1 "" — "Margjelo" 2021 — "" 2022 — "" — "" 2023 — "" — "Inshallah" 2024 — "Plastic Heart" — "Titan" — "" — "Tiki" 2025 — "" — "Maria" — "" — "Look At Ya" — "" — "Ring My Bell" — "Alina" — "Ylli Polar" (with DJ Iljano) 4 "Ani Mori Nuse" 2026 — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
References