Hundreds of mourners filled the Palace of Culture in Tetovo on Sunday to pay their final respects to Shpat Kasapi, a well-known Albanian pop singer whose sudden death at the age of 40 has shocked audiences in North Macedonia, Kosovo and Albania.
Kasapi, one of the most recognisable voices of Albanian pop music in the 2000s, died earlier this week after suffering a heart attack, authorities said.
His coffin, draped with the Albanian national flag, was placed at the centre of the hall as family members, fellow musicians and fans filed past to lay flowers. Many in the crowd applauded as the coffin was carried out of the building, a traditional gesture of respect in parts of the Balkans.
“May God reward him with paradise,” an organiser said as the ceremony drew to a close. “We are slowly making our way to the cemetery.”
The atmosphere was heavy with grief but also marked by gratitude for the singer’s career, which spanned two decades and produced a series of hits popular across the Albanian-speaking region.
Kasapi’s wife, Selvije Lao, and close relatives stood by the coffin in tears, joined by several public figures and artists who travelled from Pristina, Tirana and Skopje to attend the memorial.
One of the most emotional tributes came from Kasapi’s long-time friend and fellow performer Big Mama, who addressed the audience from the stage where both artists launched their careers as children.
“This stage was never just a stage for us. It was where our dreams, fears and hopes were shaped,” she said, struggling through tears. “Today I have no words for the emptiness you have left. You are gone far too soon. But your voice, your music and the love you shared will live on. This is not goodbye, my friend — it is see you again.”
Kasapi, born in Tetovo, became widely known in the early 2000s with a string of popular songs and performances across Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia. His death has prompted an outpouring of condolences from fans and fellow musicians across the region.
Funeral services were scheduled to continue later in the afternoon at the city cemetery in Tetovo.
