A joik, also spelled yoik, is a traditional type of song from Sámi music, performed by the Sámi people who live in Northern Europe. People who perform joik are called joikaaja (in Finnish), joiker (in Norwegian), or jojkare (in Swedish). Originally, the word "joik" described only one style of Sámi singing, but in English, it is often used to describe all traditional Sámi songs. Each joik is created to represent or remind people of a specific person, animal, or place.

The sound of joik is similar to the traditional chants of some Native American cultures. Joik also has some similarities to the spiritual traditions of Siberia, where people imitate the sounds of nature.

History

The Sami culture did not have a written language in the past, so the beginnings of joik are not recorded in writing. According to stories passed down through generations, the fairies and elves of the Arctic regions gave joiks to the Sámi people. Only Qvigstad, who recorded Sami oral traditions, wrote about this legend in many books. Music experts believe joik is one of the oldest musical traditions that has continued without interruption in Europe.

During the time when the Sámi people were converted to Christianity, joiking was considered wrong. Assimilation policies, such as Norwegianization, and the beliefs of churches and religious groups that viewed joiking as sinful contributed to its decline in value. One reason joiking was controversial may be its connection to Noaidi (Sámi shamans) and rituals from before Christianity, as joiking was thought to resemble magical chants. In the 1950s, it was illegal to use joiking in Sami schools. In 2014, a church council in Kautokeino and Maze debated 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.

Despite these challenges, joiking remained deeply tied to Sámi culture, and its traditions continued. Today, joiking is still practiced and used for inspiration. Recently, joiks are performed in two styles: a traditional style called the "mumbling" style, and a modern style popular among younger people, often included in contemporary Sámi music.

Personal and evocative nature

The joik is a special way of expressing culture for the Sami people in Sápmi. This type of song can be very personal or spiritual, often created to honor a person, animal, or place as a unique representation. Improvisation is common in joiks. Each joik is meant to reflect a specific person or location. The Sami verb for presenting a joik (such as Northern Sami juoigat) is a transitive verb, which means it requires an object. This is often understood to show that a joik is not simply a song about the person or place, but an attempt by the singer to evoke or represent that person or place through music. For example, one joiks one's friend, not about one's friend (similar to how one does not paint about a flower, but paints the flower itself).

Musical and lyrical forms

Joiks usually have short lyrics or no lyrics at all. However, some types of joik, when considered more broadly, may include longer or more detailed lyrics. Traditionally, joiks are sung without musical instruments, but today they may sometimes be accompanied by a drum (not a Sami ceremonial drum) or other instruments. The musical scale of joik is often pentatonic, which means it uses five notes, but singers can choose any notes they want.

In northern Sami areas, many joiks are personal, meaning they are connected to a specific person. 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 experienced joiks with a northern Sami elder. She learned that there is no traditional joik about the Aurora, 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 sound because the practice was nearly stopped due to the influence of Christianity. To avoid being seen as uncivilized, many South Sami people stopped singing joiks.
• 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 of the Sami people's traditional beliefs and practices of the Noaidi had similarities with those of some Siberian cultures. They sang special songs called joiks during shamanistic ceremonies, and this memory is also found in a folklore text (a shaman story). Like in many cultures of Northern Asia, copying sounds from nature was also common.

Joiking in popular culture

Joiking is a traditional singing style that has become part of modern pop culture through the work of 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 its chorus. Over time, the song has been used as a chant by football fans in Norway and the United Kingdom. It also appeared in the 2011 movie The Thing without credit. The 2019 Norwegian Eurovision entry, "Spirit in the Sky," includes joik in its chorus and features a joik solo.

Joiking has gained recognition through its use in popular films and media. For example, Disney’s Frozen and Frozen 2 include elements of Sami culture, such as reindeer herding and traditional clothing. The opening song of Frozen, titled "Vuelie," was adapted from a track by Sami musician Frode Fjellheim. This growing use of Sami culture in modern media shows a revival of interest in traditional practices.

Joiking is also central to the Sami Grand Prix, a music competition inspired by Eurovision. Participants from Norway, Sweden, and Finland, including many Sami people, compete in both joik and song categories. In the joik competition, performers wear traditional Sami clothing and sing without instruments. In the song competition, artists often blend joiking with modern music styles.

The 1970s marked a key time for Sami culture and joiking. A Sami-owned record company called Jårgalæddji was created through collaboration among Sami musicians. This company helped Sami artists produce music, leading to the release of over 40 albums and cassettes. Funding came from private investors and cultural boards in Norway and Sweden. Though the company went bankrupt in the 1980s, it helped revive interest in Sami traditions.

Other artists who have used joiking include Mari Boine, Jon Henrik Fjällgren, and the band Korpiklaani. These musicians mix joiking with styles like jazz, metal, and rock. Fjällgren won a talent show in Sweden by performing traditional joik songs. He later released an album with several joik tracks and 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 Sámi folk group that has developed their joik musical traditions.
• Mari Boine from Norway is one of the most popular artists in her Sámi culture. She combines joik with other music styles, including jazz, rock, and world music.
• Fred-René Buljo is a Norwegian joiker and rapper who, as one-third of the group KEiiNO, 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 Sámi joik songs. He won the Swedish Talang Sverige 2014 competition and participated in Melodifestivalen three times (2015, 2017, and 2019) with songs "Jag är fri (Manne leam frijje)," "En värld full av strider (Eatneme gusnie jeenh dåaroeh)" (featuring Aninia), and "Norrsken (Goeksegh)," finishing 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 Sámi people in Northern Finland.
• Mattis Hætta is a Norwegian joiker and singer who, with Sverre Kjelsberg, represented Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980 with the song "Sámiid ædnan."
• Ella Marie Hætta Isaksen won the Sámi Grand Prix (2016) and the Liet International (2017), as well as the Norwegian 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, Sámi culture and language, climate action, environmental protection, and feminism.
• Inga Juuso was a Norwegian joiker, actress, and artist born in Jokkmokk, Sweden, in 1945 and raised in Alta, Norway. She died in 2014 and was a major contributor to Sámi music and culture.
• Sofia Jannok is a Swedish singer from Gällivare, Sweden. She mainly sings in Sámi and performs joiking.
• Jonne Järvelä of the Finnish band Korpiklaani (formerly Shaman) is skilled at joiking. Both of Shaman’s albums were labeled "joik metal," drawing from Sámi music. After the band changed its name, it shifted to a more traditional folk-metal sound. He also appeared on the Jaktens Tid album by the Finnish band Finntroll.
• Marja Mortensson is a Sámi joiker and singer born on March 5, 1995. She grew up in the Svahken Sijte reindeer herding region in Norway. Her music is rooted in South Sámi traditions. She has studied and mastered the joik tradition for years and has worked with the acclaimed Sámi musician Frode Fjellheim.
• Ulla Pirttijärvi blends traditional joik with modern musical styles.
• Wimme Saari is one of the world’s most famous Sámi artists and musicians. His use of joik is central to his music. He has collaborated with other artists, including the Swedish group Hedningarna. He mixes traditional joik with new musical sounds.
• Ánde Somby is a traditional joik artist and a research scholar at the Faculty of Law, University of Tromsø. He performs joik songs about people, animals, and landscapes.
• Nils-Aslak Valkeapää was a well-known modern Sámi writer, musician, and artist who used joik in his work. He performed at the opening ceremony of the 1994 Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway.
• Najana is a Sámi/Swedish/Norwegian musician and artist with roots in the northern north. Her music combines ethno pop with joik.