Sofka Nikolić (; 1907 – 27 July 1982) was a Serbian and Yugoslav singer of folk music considered to be the first major music star in Yugoslavia. She recorded over 55 LP records.
Biography She started to sing as a minor at local fairs and events and she later went on to sing in kafanas of Sarajevo and Mostar, where she was best-known for performance of Bosnian love songs sevdalinkas. The first LP by Nikolić was recorded in 1927 and it contained several hits like Kolika je Jahorina planina and Kad bi znala, dilber Stano.
Her major concerts were in the 1920s, after which she moved to Belgrade and married fellow musician Paja Nikolić. His orchestra was a regular on Nikolić's concert tours, including a number of concerts abroad in Sofia, Berlin, Prague, Moscow, Vienna, Budapest, Madrid, London, Rome and Paris. Sofka Nikolić's musical adaptations of folk poems and original compositions attracted a large number fans. Her songs was praised by Josephine Baker, Aleksa Šantić, Branislav Nušić and other famous artists.
Nikolić had one daughter who died in an accident in 1936, after which Nikolić retired from public life.
A street in Bijeljina is named after her.
Selected singles Ali paša na Hercegovini Cojle, Manojle Kolika je Jahorina planina Kad bi znala, dilber Stano Moj dilbere Čuješ seko Igrali se vrani konji Ja nabacih udicu Lijepa li je u Alage ljuba Zapevala bulbul ptica Zone, mori Zone Zulfe, mori Zulfe Od kako je Banja Luka postala Oj Boga ti, siva ptico sokole Sagradiću šajku Svu noć mlada Uzmi sine Stanu Tri put ti čuknam Po mesečini, kraj šimšira
References