A joik or yoik (adapted for English, with the spelling "yoik" matching how it is pronounced; also called luohti, vuolle, vuelie, or juoiggus in Sámi languages) is a traditional type of song in Sámi music performed by the Sámi people of Sápmi in Northern Europe. A person who performs joik is called a joikaaja (in Finnish), a joiker (in Norwegian, and adapted for English), or jojkare (in Swedish). Originally, joik was one type of Sami singing style among several, but in English, the word is often used to describe all kinds of traditional Sami singing. As an art form, each joik is meant to reflect or bring to mind a person, animal, or place.

The sound of joik is similar to the traditional chanting of some Native American cultures. Joik has some similarities to the shamanistic cultures of Siberia, which copy the sounds of nature.

History

The Sami people did not have a written language in the past, so the beginning of joik is not recorded in writing. Oral stories say that fairies and elves from the Arctic regions gave joiks to the Sámi people. Just Qvigstad, who studied and recorded Sami oral traditions, wrote about this story in many books. Music experts believe joik is one of the oldest musical traditions that has continued for a long time in Europe.

During the time when the Sami people were being converted to Christianity, joiking was considered a sin. Policies that forced Sami people to adopt Norwegian culture and the beliefs of churches that saw joiking as sinful helped reduce its importance. One reason joiking was controversial may be because it was linked to Noaidi (Sámi shamans) and rituals from before Christianity, with joiks sometimes sounding like magical chants. In the 1950s, it was not allowed to sing joiks in Sami schools. In 2014, a church group in Kautokeino and Maze discussed whether to ban all music except church hymns in their churches. The idea was rejected, but many people still question why joiking in church remains a topic of debate.

Even though joiking was discouraged, it remained an important part of Sami culture and traditions. Today, joiking is still practiced and used for inspiration. Recently, joiks are sung in two styles: a traditional style called the "mumbling" style, and a modern style that is often performed by younger people and included in contemporary Sami music.

Personal and evocative nature

The joik is a special way of expressing culture for the Sami people in Sápmi. These songs can be deeply personal or spiritual, often sung about a person, animal, or place as a unique representation. Sometimes, the songs are made up as they go along. Each joik is meant to reflect a person or place. The Sami word for presenting a joik (such as Northern Sami juoigat) is a type of verb that shows the joik is connected to the person or place, not just describing them. This is similar to how someone might paint a flower instead of painting about a flower.

Musical and lyrical forms

Joiks usually have short lyrics or no lyrics at all. However, some types of joik (when the word is used more broadly) have longer, more detailed lyrics. Traditionally, joiks are sung without musical instruments, but today they may sometimes be accompanied by a drum (not the Sami ceremonial drum) or other instruments. The musical scale of joik is mostly pentatonic, but singers can use any tones they choose.

In northern Sami regions, many joiks are personal, meaning they are connected to a specific individual. A joik is often created for a person when they are born. During her travel program Joanna Lumley in the Land of the Northern Lights, British actress Joanna Lumley joined a northern Sami elder and heard several joiks. She learned that there is no traditional joik about the Aurora Borealis, and the Sami people rarely discuss it.

Joiking includes different styles:

• Vuelie is a type of joik from the South Sami people. It has an old-fashioned style, but its development stopped because of the influence of Christianity. Many South Sami people stopped joiking to avoid being seen as uncivilized.
• Luohti is the North Sami style of joik and is currently the most developed form.

Leuʹdd, from the Skolt Sámi tradition, is not a type of joik but a different kind of singing.

Imitative sounds and shamanism

Some Sami traditions, such as those of the Noaidi, had similarities with certain Siberian cultures. Some of their joiks were sung during spiritual ceremonies, and this tradition is recorded in a folklore story about a shaman. Like many cultures in Northern Asia, copying sounds from nature was also practiced.

Joiking in popular culture

Joiking is a traditional form of singing that has become part of modern pop culture through adaptations by artists. One example is the 1980 Norwegian song "Sámiid ædnan," which competed in the Eurovision Song Contest. This song is mostly in Norwegian but includes joiking in the chorus. Later, it was used as a chant by Norwegian and British football fans. A version of the song also appeared in the 2011 movie The Thing. In 2019, Norway's Eurovision entry "Spirit in the Sky" included joik in its chorus and featured a joik solo.

Joiking has helped raise awareness of Sami culture. For example, Disney's Frozen and Frozen 2 include elements of Sami traditions, like reindeer herding and clothing styles. The opening song of Frozen, "Vuelie," was created by Frode Fjellheim, a Sami musician. This shows how Sami culture, especially joiking, is being shared more widely.

Joiking is also part of the Sami Grand Prix, a music competition similar to Eurovision. It includes contestants from Norway, Sweden, and Finland, many of whom are Sami. In the joik competition, performers wear traditional clothing and sing without instruments. In the song competition, some entries mix joiking with modern music styles.

In the 1970s, there was a revival of joiking, called the "joik renaissance." A Sami-owned record company, Jårgalæddji, helped Sami musicians create and share their music. Over 40 albums were made during this time, with support from private investors and cultural organizations. Though the company later went out of business, it helped increase interest in Sami traditions.

Other artists who use joiking include Mari Boine, Jon Henrik Fjällgren, and the band Korpiklaani. These artists mix joiking with styles like jazz, metal, and rock. Fjällgren won a talent competition in Sweden with his joik performances and later released an album with several joik songs. He also participated in Sweden's Eurovision selection with joik songs.

Notable artists

• Adjágas, a Norwegian band, helped spread joiking around the world.
• Áilloš is a Sámi actor, composer, and folk musician from Norway.
• Nils Mattias Andersson (1882–1975) was a joiker from Sweden.
• Angelit is a Finnish Sami folk group that has developed their joik musical traditions over time.
• Mari Boine from Norway is one of the most popular artists in her Sami culture. She combines joik with other musical styles, including jazz, rock, and world music.
• Fred-René Buljo is a Norwegian joiker and rapper. He was one-third of the supergroup KEiiNO, which represented Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 with the song "Spirit in the Sky."
• Jon Henrik Fjällgren is a Colombian-born Swedish singer and jojkare, an interpreter of Joik Sami songs. He won the Swedish Talang Sverige 2014 competition and participated in Melodifestivalen three times (2015, 2017, and 2019) with songs that placed 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, respectively.
• Frode Fjellheim is a well-known joiker and front-man of Transjoik. He contributed the joik "Eatnamen Vuelie" ("Song of the Earth") as the opening song to Frozen.
• Antye Greie's record Source Voice includes a track titled "Digital Yoik," inspired by her time with Sami people in Northern Finland.
• Mattis Hætta is a Norwegian joiker and singer. He and Sverre Kjelsberg represented Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980 with the song "Sámiid ædnan."
• Ella Marie Hætta Isaksen has won the Sámi Grand Prix (2016) and the Liet International (2017), as well as the Norwegian National Television-show Stjernekamp (2018). In 2017, she started the band ISÁK, which combines joik with modern electronic pop. Their music promotes messages about equal rights, Sami culture and language, climate action, environmental protection, and feminism. They are known for their lively performances and blending different music genres and languages.
• Inga Juuso was a Norwegian joiker, actress, and artist born in Jokkmokk, Sweden, in 1945. She grew up in Alta, Norway, and passed away in 2014. She was a key figure in Sámi music and culture.