Mikael Niemi (born 13 August 1959 in Pajala, Norrbotten County) is a Swedish author. He wrote the novel Populärmusik från Vittula (in English as Popular music from Vittula). It is the story of a young boy, Matti, growing up in Pajala in the 1960s and is recounted in a humorous way. It became a best-seller in Sweden and was subsequently translated into 30 languages[1] and made into a film in 2004 by Reza Bagher.

Niemi has also written Svålhålet (really roughly translated into English as The Hole of Tough Fat), Kyrkdjävulen (The Church Devil), "Mannen som dog som en lax"(The man who died like a salmon) and Blodsugarna (The Bloodsuckers).

He first became famous by writing poetry, and he has published many collections of poetry, such as Änglar med mausergevär (Angels with mauserguns) , Med rötter här uppe (With roots up here) and his very first, Näsblod under högmässan (Nosebleed during the high mass). He has also written many works for the theater.

All of his books contain some Meänkieli language, because Pajala, and the rest of Tornedalen, is partly inhabited by people of Finnish origin, although the area has been Swedish territory since the establishment of national borders in the area.

Niemi was educated in Luleå but currently resides in Pajala.
Source: Wikipedia

Populärmusik från Vittula

Matti och hans tystlåtna kompis Niila växer upp i det barnrika kvarter i Pajalas utkant som i folkmun kallas Vittulajänkkä, förkortat Vittula. I översättning blir det Fittmyren, så kallat "som ett slags rå hyllning till den kvinnliga fruktsamheten". Det är sexti- och sjuttital, vägarna asfalteras, småjordbruken läggs ned, rockmusiken gör sin entré. De äldre generationerna bjuder dock hårt motstånd mot nymodigheterna, arvet från trettitalets magerår och från laestadianismen sitter djupt rotat. Men Mikael och hans kompisar drömmer om ett annat liv, det som kan anas bortom Tornedalens horisont