Sámi drum

What it is

The Sámi drum serves as a central tool in traditional Sámi spiritual practice. It functions as a bridge between the physical world and the spirit realm. Practitioners use it to communicate with deities and ancestors. The instrument also aids in predicting future events through specific movements on its surface.

Where it comes from

Early accounts appear in the late twelfth-century Historia Norvegiæ. Later records from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries document its widespread use. Christian missionaries and officials often confiscated these drums during the conversion period. Many were destroyed or sold to collectors.

How it is done

The noaidi holds the drum in one hand and strikes it with the other. A small die-like object called a vuorbi rests on the skin. As the drummer beats the rhythm, the pointer moves across painted symbols. The final resting place of the vuorbi indicates the answer to a question or a vision of the future.

Tools and materials

Drums are crafted from pine wood bent into an oval shape. The membrane consists of untanned reindeer hide, often taken from a calf's neck. Symbols are painted using a dark paste made from alder bark. The pointer is typically carved from brass or animal horn.

What it is for

Users seek guidance on hunting, herding, and health. The drum helps locate lost animals or understand natural threats. It also provides insight into personal fate and community relations. The symbols reflect the owner's specific worldview and daily life.

Who does it

The noaidi acts as the ritual specialist and healer. This role involves entering altered states of consciousness. Historical sources suggest the noaidi's spirit travels to other realms while the body remains still. Training involved deep knowledge of the drum's complex iconography.

Peoples and places

Different Sámi groups developed distinct drum styles. Southern Sámi drums often feature a central sun cross. Northern types divide the surface into multiple horizontal levels representing different worlds. Frame drums are common in the south, while bowl drums appear more frequently in the north.

What people believe

The drum maps a cosmology where heavens, earth, and underworld interact. Deities such as Ráðði and Horagallis inhabit these spaces. Animals like reindeer and bears hold spiritual significance. The layout mirrors the owner's landscape, including campsites and storage huts.

When it is done

Usage was tied to specific needs rather than fixed annual festivals. Rituals occurred during crises, hunts, or times of uncertainty. The drum provided answers when conventional methods failed. It served as a constant resource for navigating seasonal changes and survival challenges.

How scholars and sceptics see it

Historians analyze missionary reports and court transcripts to reconstruct practices. Anthropologists study surviving examples to understand Sámi cosmology. Researchers note that early European observers often misunderstood the symbols as runes or witchcraft signs.

Compare and confuse

The drum shares features with Siberian shamanic instruments. Both use animal skins and rhythmic beating to induce trance. However, Sámi drums feature unique painted iconographies reflecting local ecology. They differ from later folk charms by their complex structural designs.

Questions people ask about Sámi drum

Good reading and sources

• Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
• Three centuries on, a shaman’s precious rune drum returns homeThe Guardian, Article

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