Cultrun

What it is

The cultrun functions as the most significant musical and spiritual instrument within Mapuche society. It operates as a ceremonial drum that anchors religious gatherings and cultural events. Practitioners view the sound not merely as entertainment but as a vital component of their way of knowing. The instrument connects the physical world with spiritual forces, serving as a bridge during rituals aimed at restoring balance and health.

Where it comes from

Scholars generally agree that the cultrun originated with the Mapuche before contact with the Aymara or Inca Empire. Some researchers suggest possible African influences through colonial interactions, though this remains unproven due to the rapid decay of wooden artifacts in southern Chilean climates. Spanish colonizers noted the instrument early on, but its deep roots lie in indigenous craft traditions.

How it is done

Machi healers play the drum to guide ceremonies, often striking it while singing sacred songs. Participants may dance or prepare herbal remedies in rhythm with the beat. The drum can be held in hand or placed on the ground. The performance creates a participatory atmosphere where sound directs movement and intention, marking moments of conflict with illness or negative spirits.

Tools and materials

The drum measures roughly thirty-five to forty centimeters across. Craftsmen cut laurel, beech, or lingual wood in winter to prevent splitting. Inside the drum, practitioners sometimes place pairs of objects representing male and female principles. Painted symbols on the surface often depict four-fold gendered representations linked to the deity Ngünechen.

What it is for

The instrument is used to heal the sick, protect communities from evil forces, and commune with spiritual entities. It plays a key role in the Ngillatun fertility rite and other crisis interventions. Machi use its rhythm to initiate healing processes and direct communal energy toward restoration and well-being.

Who does it

Machi healers, who may be women or men identified as weye, are the primary players. Historically, male machi appeared during periods of conflict to evoke warrior lineages. Today, most healers are women or feminine-gendered men, reflecting beliefs that healing power flows from feminine sources. They undergo training to master both the musical and spiritual aspects of the role.

Peoples and places

The Mapuche people of Chile and Argentina maintain this tradition. While some scholars debate external influences, the Mapuche themselves emphasize a long local history of craftsmanship. The instrument remains central to their identity, appearing in both sacred rituals and modern urban protests as a symbol of cultural visibility.

What people believe

Mapuche epistemology prioritizes sound and oral transmission. Concepts like words are seen as passing in and out of existence rather than fixed objects. The cultrun’s sound is essential to this worldview, forming part of how people understand reality. It is not just music but a medium for communication with the divine and the cosmos.

When it is done

The drum is played during the annual Ngillatun festival and other life crises. It accompanies sacred songs performed exclusively by non-men. Rituals involving the cultrun often coincide with times of healing need or communal gathering, marking specific moments when spiritual intervention is required.

How scholars and sceptics see it

Ethnomusicologists like Maria Ester Grebe argue that the cultrun cannot be understood through Western categories of music alone. Scholars such as Ana Mariella Bacigalupo and Gary Tomlinson critique the ethnocentric definition of music, suggesting terms like sonority instead. Research highlights the instrument’s role in gender performance and its challenge to traditional academic frameworks.

Compare and confuse

The cultrun differs from general percussion instruments by its specific spiritual function and gendered symbolism. It is distinct from the lolkiñ, a wind instrument sometimes accompanying it. Unlike secular drums, it embodies cosmological principles and serves as a microcosm of the Mapuche worldview.

Law and persecution

There are no specific laws banning the instrument, but its use in political protests has drawn attention. The Mapuche community guards certain esoteric details of its ritual use. Colonial history involved Spanish interest in the instrument, but modern practice remains firmly under Mapuche control.

Questions people ask about Cultrun

Good reading and sources

• Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle

• Cultrun on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data