Kokona was born on August 7, 1913, in Izmir, Ottoman Empire, to an Albanian intellectual family, originating from Gjirokastra, Albania.

He finished in 1935 the Albanian National lyceum of Korca, then pursued higher studies in law in Paris, France.

After his law studies Kokona was appointed to the Civil Court of Kruja, which office he did not accept.

After World War II he went back to the Gymnasium of Tirana, now "Qemal Stafa" High School.

In 1949 he was appointed as an editor and translator in the publishing house "Naim Frasheri" and as a professor of French at the University of Tirana, where he taught until retirement.