Cultrun

The cultrun (also spelled kultrun, kultrung, or kultrug) is a Mapuche percussion instrument, a type of drum used for ceremonial and spiritual purposes. It is the most important musical instrument and cultural artifact in Mapuche culture of Chile and Argentina. The cultrun is traditionally a kettle drum made from a hollowed-out tree trunk covered with a stretched animal hide, typically sheep or goat.

The drum is painted with complex symbols and cosmological designs that represent the Mapuche worldview. These symbols are traditionally painted by the machi, the Mapuche spiritual leader and healer. The designs often include representations of the four cardinal directions, celestial bodies, and spiritual beings.

The machi plays the cultrun during healing ceremonies, rituals, and other important cultural events. The rhythmic drumming is believed to facilitate communication with the spirit world, invoke healing energies, and maintain balance in the natural world. The sounds and vibrations produced by the cultrun are considered to be sacred and essential to Mapuche spiritual practice. The cultrun is not just a musical instrument; it is a potent symbol of Mapuche identity, cosmology, and resistance.