Azra Kolaković (1 January 1977 – 2 October 2017), known by her stage name Donna Ares, was a Bosnian singer, songwriter, writer and pianist. She is considered the most talented Bosnian artist who wrote both music and lyrics for her songs, and was also involved in graphic design. She released a total of 6 studio albums and a book about the fight against cancer. She died at age 40 following a three-year long battle with uterine cancer.
Early life
Azra Kolaković was born in the northwestern Bosnian city of Bihać to Muslim and ethnically Bosniak parents Osman and Ajka.[1][2][3][4][5][6] She attended local music schools and graduated in 1995, during the Bosnian War. She started attending a music academy, but stopped due to the ongoing war in the country.
In 1997 she started her solo singing career, under her stage name Donna Ares. She competed in the Croatian Dora competition to represent Croatia in the Eurovision Song Contest.[2][6]
Illness and death
Kolaković had been fatigued and losing weight for months before being hospitalized in early October 2014. She was diagnosed with uterine cancer[7][8][9][10][11]
She died at age 40 of the illness in her hometown on 2 October 2017, while in a coma. She was buried two days later next to her father who had died in 2006.[2][4][5][6]
The Best Of Donna Ares (Želim da te gledam) (2010)
Other works
She is author of her autobiography book entitled Soba za nikoga[2][6] (lit. 'Room for Nobody'), published in 2015 by Buybook;[2][12] in the illustrated book, she confession-talks her disease, hospital days and remission recovery.
Donna Ares (2015). Soba za nikoga [Room for Nobody] (online book with English translations for some chapter parts /use tab 'KNJIGA' or heading 'IZABERI POGLAVLJE' to navigate/) (in Bosnian). p. 286. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
