Sami drum

A Sami drum is a membrane-covered oval drum used as a shamanistic ceremonial drum by the Sami people. The membrane is made from reindeer hide, strapped over a burl (bowl drums) or over a thin piece of bentwood in the shape of an oval (frame drums).

In Sami shamanism, the noaidi – the Sami shaman – used the drum to get into a trance, or to obtain information from the future or about other places. The drum was held in one hand, and operated with the other hand. While the noaidi was in trance, his free spirit left his body to visit the spiritual world or other places. When used for divination purposes, the drum was used together with a drum hammer and an vuorbi (index or pointer) made of brass or horn. Answers could be interpreted from where the vuorbi stopped on the membrane, and at which symbols.

The patterns on the drum membrane reflect the world view of the owner and his family, both in religious and worldly matters, such as reindeer herding, hunting, householding and relations to their neighbours and to the non-Sami community.

Many drums were taken out of their use and Sami ownership during the 18th century. A large number was confiscated by Sami missionaries and other officials as a part of an intensified Christian mission towards the Sami. Other drums were bought by collectors. Between 70 and 80 drums are preserved; the largest collection of drums is at the Nordic Museum, Stockholm.

The northern Sami terms are goavddis, gobdis or meavrresgárri, lule Sami term is goabdes and the southern Sami term is gievrie. Norwegian: runebomme, Swedish: schamantrumma; in English it is also known as "rune drum" and "Sami shamanic drum".

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