This year, the theme of the festival is Sámi youth and Nenetsi music. The Nenetsi are one of the indigenous people of Russia, and just like the Sámi they traditionally herd reindeer. In addition to workshops and seminars there are several concerts connected to the Ijahis Idja festival.

Sámi artist Niko Valkeapää and Sámi etno group Vilddas were the ones to perform on Friday in a big tent in Inari fishing harbour. They were accompanied by Tiina Sanila and her band - the first Skolt Sámi hard rock band, which is releasing its first album this month. The weather had turned ugly the night before, so the cover of the tent was needed. There were plenty of friendly faces to be seen in the crowd, people that we have learnt to know during the spring.

Yoik artist Ulla Pirttijärvi

Sámi etno group Vilddas

Tiina Sanila

Niko Valkeapää

On Saturday the tent in the harbour hosted a youth concert where young Sámi musicians performed. These included Jiella, a pop band based in Utsjoki, a well as the "Inari home boys", Sámi rappers Amoc and Aziz. The rappers were the ones to get the biggest applause.

Aziz

Amoc