So these two guys are offended and decide to duel it out. They sing out insults to each other as spectators applaud and ultimately decide the winner. Where would this have taken place?

Zbeckabee

The Inuit traditionally arrange song duels to settle their disputes non-violently, as do many other cultural groups with oral traditions such as Celtic and Viking. Song is a learning tool, a form of entertainment, and a means of creative and spiritual expression and influence and a form of public ridicule. Rachel Qitsualik (Nunatsiaq 2003: 3) says "Due to its social and psychological power, song can easily be welded by one human being as a weapon against another". "The idea was very simple: each contestant would have a turn at inventing a song (perhaps the Inuit equivalent of an evening at the improv) with lyrics that would humble, belittle, satirise, denigrate, revile, and generally humiliate the opponent" (Qitsualik 2003: 5). The two opponents were surrounded by a circle of community members in a common area who would formally judge the winner by the degree of laughter. http://ntru.aiatsis.gov.au/ifamp/stories/PDFwebpages/songs.htm http://www.nunatsiaq.com/archives/nunavut030103/news/editorial/columns.html http://history-is-made-at-night.blogspot.com/2007/10/eskimo-song-duel.html Oct 13 09, 11:17 PM

queproblema

Exactly! Beware any invitation to an Eskimo songfest. Oct 13 09, 11:59 PM