Colonia is a Croatian dance music group, founded in 1996 in Vinkovci. The group was initially formed by DJs Boris Đurđević and Tomislav Jelić, who invited Indira Levak to join as the lead vocalist. The group’s name comes from the Latin name of the city of Vinkovci – Colonia Aurelia Cibalae.
Their first single, "Nek' vatre gore sve," was released in 1996, followed by the hit "Sve oko mene je grijeh," which brought the group wider recognition. In 1997, they released their debut album Vatra i led, which sold over 40,000 copies. The group became one of the best-selling acts in Croatia, also achieving success abroad, particularly in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.
In 2002 and 2003, they achieved great success with the singles "Oduzimaš mi dah" and "C'est la vie," both of which won awards at the Croatian Radio Festival. Their 2001 album Milijun milja od nigdje sold over 300,000 copies worldwide, setting a record for Croatian music.
In 2017, Indira Levak left the group and was replaced by Ivana Lovrić. The group continued to release albums, including Feniks (2015) and Nova Era (2018). Colonia remains one of the most recognizable dance groups in the region, known for their energetic performances and distinctive sound.
