Mari Boine - Sami Musician and Ambassador

Nordic on Tap - the podcast

It is difficult to talk about the indigenous people of northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Russian Kola Peninsula without talking about the Sami musician and activist, Mari Boine. Born into a strict religious family, where speaking Sami and expressing oneself by traditional singing or joiking was considered "wrong", Boine struggled with being assimilated as a Norwegian and being ashamed of her heritage. Fortunately, she later embraced her heritage and began combining her joiking with other Western styles like pop, jazz, and rock. She has become extremely popular among the Sami as well as loved by audiences around the world. In her concerts, Boine talks about Sami culture and the struggles of indigenous peoples. Join us for this rare interview with Mari Boine, a behind-the-scenes look at who she is and what matters most to her. We also play a recording of a yoik from a man from Karasjok, Norway.