What The Sound Tusken Raiders Make Actually Is

This article contains spoilers for The Book of Boba Fett episode 2.

Heard most recently in The Book of Boba Fett, the cry that Tusken Raiders make is one of the most iconic sounds in the Star Wars universe. Also known as the Sand People, the Tusken Raiders have a history that goes all the way back to the beginning of Luke Skywalker’s story. They were one of the first alien races introduced to audiences in 1977’s Star Wars movie.

Like the Jawas, the Tusken Raiders have a long-held reputation for causing trouble. As residents of Tatooine, they appear often in Star Wars projects set at least partially on the desert planet, including the prequels and The Mandalorian. One of the things they’re best known for is their battle cry, which is still recognized today by millions of fans. The Sand People were elevated to a new level of importance in The Book of Boba Fett, which has featured them heavily in the title character’s flashback storyline. would seem that they played a key role in the journey that he went through between The Return of the Jedi and The Mandalorian.

Thanks to the increased level of focus on the Tusken Raiders in The Book of Boba Fett, the Star Wars franchise has found room to expand on their culture and show a bit more of their people. And as expected, the show has also utilized their famous battle cries, complete with the original sounds. Here’s how this sound is actually made and what it really is.

How Star Wars Created The Tusken Raiders’ Sound

The Tusken Raider cry was created by Ben Burtt, the Star Wars sound designer who famously developed sounds for Chewbacca, the TIE Fighters, lightsabers, Darth Vader’s breathing, and more. For the Tusken Raiders, Burtt just made some surprisingly minor adjustments to the bray of a donkey. To make it different and unique, Star Wars changed the speed and pitch of the donkey bray. Even though Burtt only had to make a few alternations to this natural animal noise, it was enough to craft a distinguished sound that’s since become strongly attached to Tatooine lore as the cry of the Tusken Raiders.

What The Tusken Raiders’ Cheer Sound Means In Star Wars

As their primary form of communication, the cries of the Tusken Raiders have multiple meanings. Most notably, it’s used as a battle cry meant to strike fear in their enemies. As shown in The Mandalorian season 2, the same cry can be used as a cheer of celebration. In The Book of Boba Fett episode 2, one Tusken Raider made a slightly different sound as a warning of a possible threat. Its purpose and how it’s interpreted by the Sand People was made clear by how they immediately raised their rifles and prepared for the possibility of an attack. It’s likely that only the characters who understand their language can differentiate between the various Tusken Raider calls and their varied meanings.

The Book of Boba Fett releases new episodes on Wednesdays on Disney+.

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