Pop star Dua Lipa granted Albanian citizenship
President Bajram Begaj said Lipa was granted citizenship because she has made Albanians famous throughout the world.
Albania’s president has granted citizenship to British pop star of Albanian origin Dua Lipa for what he said was the artist’s role in spreading Albanians’ fame internationally through her music.
President Bajram Begaj said Lipa was granted citizenship ahead of Albania’s 110th anniversary of independence from the Ottoman Empire. Mr Begaj said he considered it an honour to do so because Lipa has made Albanians famous throughout the world.
“I will be an Albanian with papers too,” Lipa said before taking her citizenship oath at Tirana city hall.
Lipa, who started singing at five years old, was musically influenced by her father, a former singer and guitarist of a rock band.
She started to post her songs on YouTube when she was 14. Her first debut studio album was released in 2017. In 2019 she won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist.
“It is an indescribable great joy with such acceptance, love and everything,” said Lipa. The singer then took a passport photo, was fingerprinted and signed an application form for an identity card and passport.
Lipa will wrap up her annual concert tour in Tirana’s main Skanderbeg Square on Monday to commemorate Independence Day.