Alwa Bolivia

Alwa Conrado Yujra (born 15 March 1996), known professionally as Alwa Bolivia or simply Alwa ( in Aymara), is a Bolivian rapper and songwriter, recognized as Bolivia's first pollera woman rapper. Her work incorporates references to cultural identity, social conflict, and justice, especially in relation to the post-election events of 2019, although she avoids partisan political stances.

Alwa's artistic identity is linked to her Indigenous roots. Although she is not a native Aymara speaker, she has an inherited relationship with the language through her maternal family and has expressed interest in developing musical productions in that language. Her work seeks to highlight indigenous origins as a common element in different regions of the country.

Early life Alwa grew up in the Ciudad Satélite area of El Alto, where she began listening to rap at the age of 14, influenced by her neighborhood environment. For years, she kept her musical interest to herself. From then on, she began performing in public spaces in El Alto, where she performed rhymes in Aymara dressed in a skirt, attracting the attention of passersby. One of those recordings was shared on social networks and achieved wide dissemination, which boosted the beginning of her artistic projection. In that "underground" circuit she met José Gabriel Mamani, who was interested in her proposal and offered to produce a video clip. Initially, Alwa conceived this production as a test to evaluate the reception of her work, without anticipating the reach it would have on digital platforms.

As a result, in March 2022, she made her formal musical debut with the video clip "Principio sin fin", a short production that circulated widely on digital platforms and consolidated her presence nationwide. Six months after her musical debut, Alwa joined the lineup of national artists present at the second edition of the Respira Bolivia festival, a cultural event that combined fashion, music and entertainment, and that brought together more than thirty musicians, DJs and groups.

At the third edition of the Bolivia Music Awards, held in Santa Cruz in 2023, Alwa was awarded in the category of Best Urban Artist, this being her first recognition in the musical field.

In 2024, the music video for Cumbia Revolucionaria was nominated for various international awards in the United States, Peru, and Argentina. It was selected to participate in the twenty-sixth edition of the Las Américas International Film Festival, held in Texas, United States, from 15 to 19 May.

In March 2025, Alwa presented its brand Quya clothing during the Santa Cruz Week event. The proposal fuses elements of Andean culture, such as the pollera, with a contemporary urban aesthetic, seeking to highlight its symbolic value from a perspective of identity and resistance. On 9 April 2025, Alwa participated in the launch of the single "Hey! (¿Estás ahí?)" (Hey! (Are You There?)) with Luis Gamarra. The song, developed in a context of social and economic crisis, conveys messages of empathy, resilience, and unity.

Musical style In her early compositions, Alwa used Spanish as her primary language, later incorporating Aymara as a form of cultural representation. As the author of her own lyrics, she has noted that much of her artistic output is based on personal experiences linked to adverse situations, which she channels through music. Initially, Alwa did not have the full support of her family to pursue music; however, over time she managed to gain support, especially from her parents, who currently support her projects.

Singles 2022: Principio sin fin 2022: Alwa 2023: Cumbia Revolucionaria 2023: La boliviana 2024: Perder El Miedo 2024: Siempre Con Tigo (ft. Corona) 2025: Hey! (¿Estás ahí?) (ft. Luis Gamarra)

Awards and nominations

Bolivia Music Awards Year Category Work Result 2023 Video of the Year Cumbia revolucionaria Best Urban Artist (female) Herself 2024Female Artist of the Year