Comedians from Albania

Zyrafete Gashi

Zyrafete Gashi, who performed under the name Zyra, was a comedian from the Albanian community of Kosovo. She spent more than thirty years on stage, creating a variety of memorable characters. The moniker “Zyra” originated from her portrayal of an elderly Albanian matriarch steeped in traditional customs. Among her other personae were Zet’hanja, a police officer, and Tetka Dragica, a senior Serbian‑Kosovar resident of Gračanica who constantly grumbled about cohabiting with Albanians, along with numerous additional parts. Her work is celebrated for blending comic timing with the everyday realities of life in Kosovo.