Mawiza is an Indigenous Chilean metal band from the Mapuche Nation that mixes groove/melodic metal with traditional Mapuche rhythms and instruments, and sings entirely in the Mapuzungun language. The word “Mawiza” itself means “mountain” in Mapuzungun and reflects their deep connection to land and nature.[1][2][3] ## Band overview Mawiza originated in Wallmapu, the ancestral territory of the Mapuche people in southern South America, and is now based around Santiago, Chile. The current lineup is led by vocalist/guitarist Awka, with Karü (guitar), Zewü (bass) and Txalkan (drums/percussion), all of Mapuche descent.[2][4][1] Their stated mission is to preserve ancestral roots and “rescue Indigenous moral values” while promoting biodiversity and respect for all living beings. They explicitly frame their music as part of an anti‑colonial, land‑defense struggle rather than just a stylistic metal project.[3][4][1][2] ## Music and language Mawiza’s sound pulls from groove metal, melodic death metal and nu‑metal, with clear influence from bands like Gojira and Knocked Loose, layered with Mapuche rhythms that are meant to be stomped to, like a powwow. They incorporate traditional elements such as the kultrún drum and ceremonial chants alongside down‑tuned guitars and modern metal production.[1][2] All their recent material is sung in Mapuzungun, their ancestral language, which was suppressed by the Chilean state for decades. The track you’re watching, “Mamüll Reke,” is from their third album “ÜL” (“Chant”) and exists both in a full-band version and in this unplugged performance.[5][2][1] ## History and discography The band started in 2014 under the name Nunca Seremos Dichosos, releasing the albums “Tierra” (2017) and “Kollong” (2019) before fully reorienting as Mawiza. “Kollong” included “Mawiza ñi piwke,” often cited as the first metal song entirely in Mapuzungun, and it earned them a Pulsar Award (the Chilean “Grammy”) for Best Metal Artist in 2020.[6][2][1] After lineup changes and a deeper political and spiritual commitment to Mapuche identity, they adopted the name Mawiza and switched to using only Mapuzungun in their lyrics. Their Season of Mist debut “ÜL” further develops this direction and includes collaborations like “Ti Inan Paw-Pawkan” featuring Joe Duplantier of Gojira.[7][2][1] ## Name and other meanings Within the Mapuche context, “Mawiza” emphasizes mountains and the spirits that inhabit them, tying the band’s identity to their territory and its protection. In other cultural contexts, “Mawiza” can also appear as an Arabic/Malay given name meaning “guidance” or “word of encouragement,” but that is unrelated to the band and its Mapuche origin.[8][3][1] [1](https://remezcla.com/features/music/meet-mawiza-the-mapuche-metal-band-decolonizing-heavy-music/) [2](https://www.season-of-mist.com/bands/mawiza/) [3](https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/meet-mawiza-the-story-of-the-slipknot-endorsed-band-fighting-colonialism) [4](https://newnoisemagazine.com/interviews/on-tyranny-mawiza-strive-to-rescue-indigenous-moral-values-in-chile/) [5](https://mawizakvlt.bandcamp.com) [6](https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Mawiza/3540562061) [7](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmGW3emx36Y) [8](https://mylofamily.com/parenting/babynames/meaning-of-mawiza-50018) [9](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQ4NHS2dKFE&list=PLArAJlC1y55__rXdglkrUsveYmW1Bb7rf&index=30) [10](https://www.instagram.com/mawizakvlt/?hl=en) [11](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChq-O6hnvAj9CJVAGvEcyDg)