Anfisa Ageeva

Anfisa Maksimovna Zakharova was born on February 12, 1952 in Kanevka (Russian: Канёвка).[1] Her parents were reindeer herders and decorated war veterans. Her father was Maksim Antonovich Zakharov (1919–1984)[3] and her mother Mariya Ivanovna Zakharova (1922–2008).[4] Together they went on to have a total of 9 children.[5][6]

In 1962, the Soviet Union decided to build the Serebryanskaya hydroelectric power station near where they lived. To do this, they had to dam the Koarrdõgk River. A few years later, when the entire village of Koarrdõgk was going to be flooded and submerged under the new reservoir, the family were moved to Lovozero.[6][7]

The traditional vocal music of the East Sámi, mostly known as leuʹdd from Skolt Sámi (Kildin Sami: лыввьт) has been a part of Ageeva's life since she was born. Both Ageeva's mother and grandmother sang luvvts and her mother was a famous singer of them.[6][8] Her mother sang these with music groups like Lujavvr (Kildin Sami: Луяввьр) and Ojar (Kildin Sami: Ойяр).[4][8][9] Some of her luvvts have been recorded; these are archived in Norway, Estonia, Germany, etc.[4] Ageeva's sister, Domna Khomyuk, is also well known for her luvvt singing.

Over the years, Ageeva has performd luvvts many times in the yoik category of the Sámi Grand Prix both alone and with her sister Domna Khomyuk. In 2001, Agejeva entered the contest for the first time with a luvvt called Meleš, which she placed first in the yoik category[10] A couple of years later, she entered again in the same category, but this time with her sister Domna Khomyuk.[10] Their luvvt was called Duottar. Ageeva tried to win the yoik category again in 2007 and 2013, with the entries Sorrow and Luottáš respectively. In 2019, she and her sister were back with a luvvt called Vuess. Since her win in 2001, she has not placed in the top 3 in the yoik category.

In addition to performing luvvts, Ageeva and her sister also collect and record them, ensuring that future generations will have access to them.[6]

Ageeva has translated books and songs into her mother tongue of Kildin Sámi. For example, in 2021, she translated the traditional Victory Day song into Kildin Sámi with the title of Вуэјјтэм Пе̄ййв.[9][11]