Joik: The Living Voice of the Sámi People

High in the northern reaches of Norway, Sweden, Finland and the Kola Peninsula of Russia, the Sámi people carry an ancient tradition in their hearts and voices: the joik. More than music, joik is a unique cultural expression that embodies identity, memory and connection to the natural world. For the Sámi, it is both a personal treasure and a shared heritage – one they proudly carry into the future.

A Tradition Older Than Borders

Joik is one of the oldest surviving musical traditions in Europe, with roots stretching back thousands of years. It predates the arrival of Christianity in Sápmi (the Sámi homeland) and is believed to have originated as part of pre-Christian shamanistic practices.

Historically, joik was a way to connect with the spiritual world, to honor people, animals or landscapes, and to preserve collective memory. Because Sámi culture was traditionally oral, joik became an important tool for passing down knowledge and keeping traditions alive.

More Than a Song

The defining feature of joik is its purpose: a joik is not about something—it is the thing. To joik a friend, a mountain or a herd of reindeer is to express its very essence through melody, rhythm and tone.

Each joik is deeply personal. A joik for a person might capture the sound of their laughter or the way they walk. A joik for a reindeer herd could mimic the rhythm of hooves on Arctic snow.

Style and Sound

Traditional joiks are often performed solo and a cappella, though modern artists may add drums, guitars, or electronic layers. The melodies are short, repetitive and cyclical—creating a meditative, trance-like atmosphere, much like Nordic folk rituals.

The lyrics can be in the Sámi language or use non-lexical syllables. These vocal sounds allow the singer to channel energy and emotion rather than literal meaning.

🎶 Want more Nordic sounds? Dive into our feature on Scandinavian design and its harmony with nature, where architecture and music meet in minimalism.

Survival Through Adversity

For centuries, joik faced suppression. During the Christianization of Sápmi, missionaries labeled it as pagan and in some regions joiking was banned in schools or public gatherings.

Still, the tradition survived – often sung quietly within families. Today, its very survival has turned joik into a symbol of Sámi pride and resilience. Performing a joik is not only artistic expression but also an act of cultural preservation and resistance.

Modern Joik and Global Recognition

In the 20th and 21st centuries, Sámi artists brought joik into the global spotlight. Legends like Nils-Aslak Valkeapää and Mari Boine fused joik with jazz, world music and pop. More recently, Jon Henrik Fjällgren has introduced joik to international audiences through competitions like Sweden’s Melodifestivalen.

Even Hollywood took notice: the haunting opening chant in Disney’s Frozen (Vuelie) was inspired by this tradition.

👉 Related: Experience other Nordic cultural exports like Astrid Lindgren’s storytelling or the Faroese chain dance, another ancient art form still alive today.

For deeper background, visit the International Sámi Film Institute or the Sámi Council.

Pride in Every Note

For the Sámi, joik is more than performance – it is a living voice of the Arctic, echoing across the tundra like the Northern Lights above. It is at once ancient and modern, private and communal, sacred and celebratory.

To hear a joik in its homeland is to stand inside a moment where past and present meet, where identity is sung into the air, and where a people’s voice continues to resonate as timelessly as the mountains and fjords of the north.

✨ Travel with Best of Nordic and we can bring you closer to Sámi culture – whether through joik performances, reindeer herding visits, or Arctic expeditions in Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Lapland.