yoik

Yoik, also spelled joik, is a traditional form of song of the Sámi people, indigenous to Sápmi, which spans the northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and parts of Russia. It is one of Europe’s oldest continually practiced musical traditions.

Yoik is primarily vocal and often performed a cappella or with a frame drum. Melodies tend to be short and repetitive, with a distinctive timbre that can be nasal or chant-like. The performance may be improvised or learned by ear, and the lyrics, when present, tend to evoke the subject rather than tell a narrative.

In Sámi culture, yoiks are used to evoke people, animals, landscapes, or events and may accompany life rites, ceremonies, and daily activities. The practice is closely tied to Sámi identity, though regional languages and styles shape how a yoik is sung. Historical periods of assimilation policies suppressed some expressions of Sámi culture, but yoik tradition has experienced revival and continued significance in many communities.

In contemporary music, yoik elements appear in works by artists such as Nils-Aslak Valkeapää (Áillohaš), Mari Boine, and Sofia Jannok, who blend traditional yoik with other genres. The form remains a living tradition, debated and celebrated for its cultural importance and evolving expressions.