Inuit throat singing

E667102

Inuit throat singing is a traditional vocal art form of the Inuit people, characterized by rhythmic, guttural sounds produced in duet or solo performances that often mimic natural and animal noises.

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Statements (52)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Inuit cultural practice
intangible cultural heritage
vocal music tradition
associatedWith Arctic Indigenous rights movements
Inuit identity
characterizedBy circular breathing techniques
close physical proximity of performers
guttural sounds
rhythmic patterns
short repeated motifs
culturalRegion Arctic NERFINISHED
Subarctic
hasAlternativeName Inuit katajjaq NERFINISHED
Inuit throat games NERFINISHED
katajjaq
historicalSuppressionBy Christian missionaries
historicalSuppressionReason considered pagan
imitates animal sounds
bird calls
dog panting
natural sounds
water
wind
performanceStructure call and response
interlocking patterns
rapid alternation of sounds
practicedBy Inuit people NERFINISHED
Inuit women
practicedIn Alaska NERFINISHED
Canada NERFINISHED
Greenland NERFINISHED
Labrador NERFINISHED
Nunavik NERFINISHED
Nunavut NERFINISHED
recognizedAs symbol of Inuit cultural resilience
requires precise breath control
strong diaphragm support
vocal cord manipulation
revivalPeriod late 20th century
traditionalFunction competition
entertainment
game
lullaby
passing time during long winters
social bonding
transmissionMethod intergenerational teaching
oral tradition
typicalPerformanceType duet
solo
usedIn contemporary Inuit music
cultural festivals
world music performances

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Inuit Nunangat culturalPractice Inuit throat singing