Inuit drum dancing from East Greenland

This is an example of Inuit Drum Dancing from East Greenland (an intangible cultural heritage) recorded outside the Kap Dan church in Kulusuk, East Greenland as part of a tour. The drummer is dressed in traditional East Greenlandic women's costume and is hitting the edge of the drum (as is typical in Greenland), not the drum skin itself.

Drum dancing in Greenland was used during spiritual ceremonies, for entertainment and in social contexts, and also for resolving conflicts. In fact, the symbol of Greenland's modern courthouses is the Inuit drum. It, like many Inuit traditions, was almost eliminated by Danish colonialization so it is now typically only seen/heard as part of an organised performance. 

Fortunately, there are now programs throughout the country to encourage younger generations to take up this important cultural heritage and preserve it into the future. 

UNESCO listing: Inuit drum dancing and singing

Recorded by Lisa Germany.

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This sound is part of the Sonic Heritage project, exploring the sounds of the world’s most famous sights.

Find out more and explore the whole project: https://www.citiesandmemory.com/heritage