☝️ Key Points
- The Eskimo, a character in Greenland, listens to music through the radio and is motivated to make music himself
- He sacrifices important resources to buy a djembe and starts playing with great passion
- His loud music attracts a polar bear that kills him - an absurd, ironic twist
- On a superficial level, the song suggests not buying a djembe to avoid the same fate as the Eskimo
- On a deeper level, the song could be a critique of Western consumer culture and a warning about the risks of artistic expression
Interpretation
'Eskimo' by
Mani Matter is a humorous and thought-provoking narrative about an Eskimo living in Greenland. The Eskimo listens to music through the radio and decides to make music as well. He buys a well-preserved djembe (a type of drum), despite barely having the means to afford it (he has to sacrifice two bottles of cod liver oil). However, when he plays passionately and at a high volume on his djembe, he attracts a polar bear that kills him.
The song's lyrics have an absurd and ironic tone, typical of Mani Matter's style. The moral of the story suggested by the song is that one should not buy a djembe, or else one might suffer the same fate as the poor Eskimo. However, it is likely that Mani Matter suggests this 'moral' with a wink.
In a deeper interpretation, the song could be a critique of Western consumer culture. The Eskimo sacrifices his vital resources to buy a luxury item that he doesn't really need, and pays a high price for it. It could also be a call to be cautious in the practice of art, as it carries risks ('art is always a risk').
Overall, 'Eskimo' is a song that combines humor and deep reflections, and showcases Mani Matter's ability to use everyday and absurd situations to contemplate larger themes.