{"id":1991,"date":"2016-09-05T00:15:00","date_gmt":"2016-09-05T00:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nordligefolk.no\/?p=1991"},"modified":"2026-02-09T00:26:32","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T00:26:32","slug":"riddu-riddu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nordligefolk.no\/en\/riddu-riddu\/","title":{"rendered":"Riddu Ri\u0111\u0111u"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every summer, indigenous peoples from all over the world gather in the Sea S\u00e1mi village of Manndalen in K\u00e5fjord. Riddu Ri\u0111\u0111u has grown to become one of the most significant festivals in Europe.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Riddu Ri\u0111\u0111u is an annual music and culture festival that takes place in K\u00e5fjord. Through music, theatre, film, art and literature, the festival aims to highlight, develop and challenge the culture and identity of the Sami and other indigenous peoples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sea Sami pride<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

In 1991, the festival was organised for the first time as \u00abSea Sami Cultural Days\u00bb. The programme included charcoal fishing, a barbecue in the valley, an exhibition of local art and duodji and three concerts with Sami and African artists. The organiser was G\u00e1ivuona Samenuorat<\/em>\/K\u00e5fjord Sameungdom, a Sami youth organisation, which was started the year before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The young people in G\u00e1ivuona Samenuorat <\/em>wanted to use the cultural days to shine a spotlight on the Sea Sami cultural heritage, which for so long had been viewed with shame both inside and outside the municipality's borders. This took place at a time when there was a great deal of opposition to the Sami, and the debates were at times very heated, both in the media and in private homes around the municipality. Through music, art and culture, the young people wanted to turn shame into pride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Plakat
Poster from the first Riddu 1991.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Hub for indigenous peoples<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Despite resistance and opposition, the festival grew in breadth and scope. In 1995, the festival was renamed Riddu Ri\u0111\u0111u, and most of the programme was moved to an outdoor stage. Well-known S\u00e1mi artists performed at the festival, and contributions from indigenous peoples from other northern areas grew steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the festival is a hub for indigenous peoples around the world and is recognised as one of the most important festivals in Europe. The festival builds bridges, creates friendship, trust and respect across national borders and ethnicity. National recognition came when the festival, as one of 12 festivals in Norway, was given the status of a hub festival and thus became a permanent item in the national budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch the documentary Liten storm p\u00e5 kysten, NRK 2001<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"Skjermbilde<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Watch the film Greater than ourselves, by Anita Lervoll, 2004<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n