Podlachian duo Sw@da & Niczos, singing in the local dialect, received a prestigious Polish award
On January 11, one of Poland's most prestigious cultural awards, Paszporty Polityki for 2025, was presented. The award was given in seven categories: film, classical music, stage, digital culture, visual arts, book, and popular music, writes Reform.news.
Sw@da & Niczos. Screen capture
In the "Popular Music" category, the Podlachian duo Sw@da & Niczos (Viktor Shchyhel and Nika Yurchuk) won — for originality, their unique path to the listener, and creating a modern musical vision that draws inspiration from tradition. In her words of gratitude, Nika Yurchuk noted that this award shows that their work, done intuitively and in their own way, is now more widely appreciated.
The duo was nominated for the album Indawoods, in which the singers transformed traditional Podlachian dialect and root chants into a modern electronic sound that captivated Polish critics. The music of Sw@da & Niczos is a sensual manifesto of a new identity: without "museum-like" quality, but with respect for roots.
Sw@da & Niczos during the award ceremony. Screen capture
In the "Stage" category, Belarusian playwright and director Mikita Ilyinchyk was nominated for the award but did not receive it.
Paszporty Polityki is one of the most significant cultural awards in Poland, annually presented by Polityka magazine to young artists for high artistic achievements, creative courage, and influence on contemporary culture. The final gala concert gathers leading figures of the Polish art scene: musicians, filmmakers, theater artists, writers, and artists.
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