Skip links

Skip to Content
play

Live

Navigation menu

  • News
    • Middle East
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • US & Canada
    • Latin America
    • Europe
    • Asia Pacific
  • Ukraine war
  • Features
  • Economy
  • Opinion
  • Video
    • Coronavirus
    • Climate Crisis
    • Investigations
    • Interactives
    • In Pictures
    • Science & Technology
    • Sports
    • Podcasts
play

Live

In Pictures

Gallery|Arts and Culture

Estonia’s Kihnu – the women’s island

With men out at sea fishing, women are in charge of this Baltic community and have been running the show for centuries.

Sebastien/ DO NOT USE/ RESTRICTED
Mare Matas, leader of the island and president of the Kihnu Cultural Space Foundation, walks past a 19th century lighthouse. [Sebastien Leban/Al Jazeera]
By Sebastien Leban
Published On 1 Sep 20151 Sep 2015
facebooktwitterwhatsapp

Kihnu, Estonia – Lost in the Baltic Sea off Estonia’s coast, a little island is home to one of the world’s last matriarchal societies. Women are in charge of this community of 600 souls and have been running the show for centuries.

The men of Kihnu, who are mostly fishermen, go out to sea for months at a time, leaving behind wives and children. Women govern the island in their absence, and act as guardians of its traditions and culture. 

In Kihnu, folk traditions are part of everyday life and are of the utmost significance for the community. Women play a key role in preserving this culture. Children are taught traditional musical instruments at school as well as Kihnu’s dialect.

Women from all walks of life proudly wear the traditional Kihnu dress.

People often gather at the community centre, which is also the island’s museum, to dance and sing traditional songs.

In 2003, Kihnu culture was recognised as a UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Sebastien/ DO NOT USE/ RESTRICTED
The lighthouse is a popular tourist attraction during the summer. [Sebastien Leban/Al Jazeera]
Advertisement
Sebastien/ DO NOT USE/ RESTRICTED
The Kihnu museum is also used as a community centre and a classroom for traditional music courses. [Sebastien Leban/Al Jazeera]
Sebastien/ DO NOT USE/ RESTRICTED
Maria Michelson, 28, teaches violin to the island's children. [Sebastien Leban/Al Jazeera]
Sebastien/ DO NOT USE/ RESTRICTED
Jarsumae Virve celebrates her 87th birthday with family, friends, and a folk band. [Sebastien Leban/Al Jazeera]
Sebastien/ DO NOT USE/ RESTRICTED
Kihnu's men usually leave home for several months at a time on fishing expeditions. [Sebastien Leban/Al Jazeera]
Sebastien/ DO NOT USE/ RESTRICTED
An old woman knits patterns passed on to her by her mother and grandmother. [Sebastien Leban/Al Jazeera]
Advertisement
Sebastien/ DO NOT USE/ RESTRICTED
For Kihnu women, men have one important role in the household - earning an income. [Sebastien Leban/Al Jazeera]
Sebastien/ DO NOT USE/ RESTRICTED
A fisherman heads out to the Baltic Sea. [Sebastien Leban/Al Jazeera]
Sebastien/ DO NOT USE/ RESTRICTED
Fishermen return to where they dropped their nets in the sea to collect their catch. [Sebastien Leban/Al Jazeera]
Sebastien/ DO NOT USE/ RESTRICTED
While men are out at sea, women take care of the household chores. [Sebastien Leban/Al Jazeera]
Sebastien/ DO NOT USE/ RESTRICTED
Along with dances and songs, knitting is one of the most important traditions on the island. [Sebastien Leban/Al Jazeera]


    • About Us
    • Code of Ethics
    • Terms and Conditions
    • EU/EEA Regulatory Notice
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Cookie Preferences
    • Sitemap
    • Community Guidelines
    • Work for us
    • HR Quality
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise with us
    • Apps
    • Channel Finder
    • TV Schedule
    • Podcasts
    • Submit a Tip
    • Al Jazeera Arabic
    • Al Jazeera English
    • Al Jazeera Investigative Unit
    • Al Jazeera Mubasher
    • Al Jazeera Documentary
    • Al Jazeera Balkans
    • AJ+
    • Al Jazeera Centre for Studies
    • Al Jazeera Media Institute
    • Learn Arabic
    • Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights
    • Al Jazeera Forum
    • Al Jazeera Hotel Partners

Follow Al Jazeera English:

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • youtube
  • instagram-colored-outline
  • rss
Al Jazeera Media Network logo
© 2023 Al Jazeera Media Network