piduripatju

The term piduripatju, often spelled piduri patju, refers to a traditional Sami drum. These drums were significant cultural artifacts used by the Sami people, an indigenous group of Northern Europe, for spiritual and divinatory purposes. The construction of a piduripatju typically involved a wooden frame, often made from birch, and a drumhead stretched over it. This drumhead was traditionally made from animal hide, such as reindeer or horse skin, carefully prepared to create a taut surface.

The surface of the drumhead was often decorated with painted symbols, which varied depending on the shaman, or noaidi, who used the drum and the specific region. These symbols represented various deities, spirits, natural phenomena, and aspects of the Sami cosmology. The shaman would use a drumstick, often made from reindeer antler, to strike the drumhead.

During ceremonies, the noaidi would enter a trance state, and the rhythmic beat of the piduripatju was believed to facilitate communication with the spirit world. The patterns and movements of the drumstick on the decorated surface were interpreted as a form of divination, providing answers to questions or guidance on important matters. The use of piduripatju declined significantly with the Christianization of the Sami people, and many drums were destroyed or confiscated by missionaries. Today, surviving piduripatju are valuable historical and ethnographic objects, preserved in museums and studied by researchers interested in Sami culture and history. Some contemporary Sami artists and cultural practitioners are also exploring the revival and reimagining of drum traditions.