Alwa, the Indigenous Bolivian rapper breaking down barriers

Alwa, the first Aymara indigenous woman rapper in Bolivia, performs during a concert in the street in La Paz, on April 22, 2022. Photos: Aizar Raldes/AFP

Cardenas Alwa stands rigidly in front of a microphone, wearing a traditional puffy "pollera" skirt, a picture of serious concentration as Andean panpipe music starts up in the background.

The scene is set for a typical melancholic traditional Bolivian song but suddenly, the 26-year-old breaks out into a rap, lifting up her arms with jerky hand movements.