Rita Ora

Ora in 2014, photo by Prphotos

Birth Name: Rita Sahatçiu

Place of Birth: Pristina, SFR Yugoslavia (now Kosovo)

Date of Birth: 26 November, 1990

Ethnicity: Albanian

Rita Ora is a British singer, songwriter, and actress. She is known for her songs “R.I.P.,” “How We Do (Party),” “Your Song,” “Anywhere,” “Let You Love Me,” and, in a featured role, “Hot Right Now.”

She was born in Pristina, Yugoslavia, to a Kosovan Albanian family. She is the daughter of Vera (Bajraktari), a psychiatrist, and Besnik Sahatçiu, a pub owner. Her father is a Muslim and her mother is Catholic. Her family moved to the U.K in 1991, because of the persecution of Albanians in Kosovo, and she was raised in Notting Hill, London. Her surname, Sahatçiu, is derived from the Turkish word saatçi, which means “watchmaker.” Her family later added “Ora” to her full name; the word means “time” in Albanian. In 2015, she was named Honorary Ambassador of Kosovo.

When asked about her ethnicity in an interview, Rita stated that she is “100% from Kosovo,” here. A picture of Rita’s father can be seen here. A picture of Rita’s mother can be seen here. Rita is married to New Zealand actor and filmmaker Taika Waititi.

Rita’s paternal grandfather was Besim Sahatçiu, a film and theatre director (the son of Adem Sahatçiu and Besa). Besim was born in Pejë, Kingdom of Yugoslavia, now Kosovo.

Rita’s maternal grandfather was named Osman Bajraktari. Osman was the Albanian consul to Russia, then part of the USSR.

Ora in 2012, image via Featureflash / Shutterstock.com