Inuit throat singing (katajjaq) and drumming (qilaut) are fundamental to the performing arts of the Arctic, serving distinct yet complementary cultural roles. Throat singing is traditionally a unique vocal game performed by two women, producing complex, rhythmic, and resonant sounds—often imitating the sounds of the natural world (wind, water, animals)—through deep inhalation and exhalation.
Drumming involves the use of the qilaut, a large, shallow, hand-held drum made of a caribou or seal skin stretched over a wooden hoop. Unlike Western drumming, the player strikes the hoop and frame, not the skin, to produce a deep, resonating beat that accompanies dancing and storytelling. Together, these practices are vital for celebration, competition, cultural preservation, and spiritual expression.
