Mawiza – a metal band with roots far from Sweden

On the Skeppsbro stage during the Stockholm Culture Festival, we experienced a concert that truly set itself apart from the other performances at the festival. Mawiza is a metal band from Chile with roots in Mapuche culture. They write their lyrics in their own language, mapudungun, and the music is a mix of metal, indigenous tradition, culture, and language. Even though I do not understand what they are singing, you can feel that they are conveying lyrics drawn from their history and tradition.

The music is intense, featuring powerful riffs, a heavy drive, and a raw energy. The fact that Mawiza sings in their own language gives them a strong identity, and as they so clearly represent their country and values, it becomes more than just a concert. They perform rituals on stage, which reinforces the sense of traditions that remain from an indigenous people. They mix modern instruments with traditional drums. The masks they occasionally wore during the concert further enhanced the indigenous feeling.

Mawiza has received great praise for their album ÜI from, among others, Rolling Stone and Metal Hammer, and they had a group of devoted fans in front of the Skeppsbro stage. The band definitely stood out and was fascinating to see and hear. The concert, which draws heavily on culture and traditions, was anything but predictable and an exciting experience. One downside of the experience is that I do not understand what the lyrics are about – what is it that Mawiza conveys with such intensity and energy?