The outspoken artist yesterday released a video of two songs including the new track "Swords," which begins with the clanking of swords before MIA's signature heavy beats kick in.
The video shows a spirited dance among girls wielding swords and sticks, as well as a performer who smashes plantains lodged under the chin of a supine woman.
"Swords" is full of Hindu imagery including temple scenes and aflame Sanskrit script for the holy mantra "Om."
The song also references the high-tech southern city of Bangalore, as MIA raps, "Highly explosive, ready and raw / Everything banging like we're in Bangalore."
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The video, released on the new Apple Music streaming site, transitions to Ivory Coast where a man in a shiny golden outfit and red tutu dances at fast pace to "Warriors," a song from MIA's last album "Matangi" that came out in 2013.
"He is a spiritual warrior and communicates through dancing. It's a lifelong commitment for him to be the designated spiritual body that channels that dance," MIA said in a statement.
MIA said she had held off on releasing the video for "Warriors," which was the first she directed, as the experience inspired her to "make a whole series of songs and videos on the concept of borders.