Riddu Riđđu () is an annual Sámi music and culture festival held in Olmmáivággi (Manndalen) in the Gáivuotna Municipality (also known as Kåfjord Municipality) in Norway. The goal of the festival is to bring forward both Sámi culture and that of other indigenous peoples. Translated to English, the name of the festival is "small storm at the coast". The festival has permanent support from the Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs, the Sámi parliament, Troms county and Kåfjord municipality.
Riddu Riđđu includes concerts, seminars, performances, youth camp, stage art, literature, children's program, Northern People's program, youth camp, film program, courses (workshops), art exhibition, market (bazaar), indigenous houses and much more.
The 30th festival was to be held 8–12 July 2020; however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic the 2020 festival was cancelled. From 2021 onwards, annual festivals have been resumed. The next festival is to be held 8-12 July 2026.
History
The festival was launched by a group of young Sámi on New Year's Eve 1991 at Olmmáivággi (). This was a decade after the Sámi cultural revitalization started. Before that time, the Norwegian government attempted to assimilate the indigenous Sámi into the Norwegian majority population. In Olmmáivággi almost all of the previously majority Sámi population now considered themselves as Norwegian.
During the 1990s, the anti-Sámi sentiment was especially strong in the area with Sámi road-signs being shot to pieces and families being split. A group of youth started to ask questions such as: "Why did they [the Norwegian government] take away from us the Sámi language? Why do we hide our Sea-Sámi identity and culture? Why are we ashamed [of being Sámi]?" This started a Sámi youth organization that among other things organized the Riddu Riđđu festival.
The first festival was arranged in 1991 and has since been arranged annually. In 1998, the Riddu Riđđu Searvi organization was established and has since been responsible for arranging the festival. In 2018, Sandra Márjá West became the festival manager.
The festival was opened by Queen Sonja in 2016. In 2017, the then Minister of Culture Trine Skei Grande was responsible for the opening.
Lineups
2013 lineup Buffy Sainte-Marie Moana and the Tribe Oki Dub Ainu Band Elin Kåven Lovisa Negga Violet Road Admiral P Iva Lamkum Sisi
2014 lineup A Tribe Called Red Felgen Orkester Jon Henrik Fjällgren Biru Baby Tamikrest Hekla Stålstrenga Sator Jörgen Stenberg
2015 lineup Mari Boine Resirkulert Yann Tiersen Nanook Senjahopen Katchafire Amoc Urna F.A.C.E.
2016 lineup Slincraze Sofia Jannok Ana Tijoux Violet Road Sondre Justad Hanggai Marja Helena Fjellheim Mortensson Ylva Suming Herman Rundberg Kitok Traditional
2017 lineup Chalama Project Uyarakq Áilu Valle Dagny Duolva Duottar Ondt Blod Ágy Isák Johan Anders Bær Radik Tyulush Silver Jackson Dj Ailo
2018 lineup Mari Boine Baker Boy Resirkulert Solju Wimme Saari Amanda Delara Felgen Orkester Biru Baby Tyva Kyzy DJ Shub 99Plajo
2019 lineup Buffy Sainte-Marie Wiyaala Maxida Märak ISÁK Tanya Tagaq Hildá Länsman Alash Opphav feat. Risten Anine Silla + Rise Ruben Jeremy Dutcher DJ: 169 Mio Negga Alexia Galloway-Alainga Cheinesh DJ Rise Ashen Slincraze
2021 lineup ISÁK Agnete Kalle Urheim DJ iDJa with Åvla and Ramona Linnea Felgen Orkester A Million Pineapples Bats of Congress DJ collective Article 3 OZAS Kajsa Balto
2025 lineup
Aysanabee Kajsa Balto Intrigue Sara Curruchich Nini Northern Cree RSP & Thomax Sauwestari Marja Mortensson Simon Issát Marainen Ailu Valle X Amoc X Boogiemen The Arctic Is Not For Sale (Nunatta Isiginnaartitsisarfia + Nordting - Northern Assembly)
References
External links
Sámi Musical Performance and the Politics of Indigeneity in Northern Europe by Thomas Hilder