Visits
Gaby Gazcon
CDMX. He Chopo University Museum It is celebrating 50 years of being an important part of the culture in Mexico. The enormous building that resembles ‘a Gothic Cathedral’ stands near the Cuauhtémoc Mayor’s Office.
Right in that cultural center 45 years ago, when it was directed by Ángeles Mastetta, the idea arose, to have within its facilities a place for the exchange and sale of records and literature. At first it was intended for all musical genres, and the idea was intended for one month and lasted two years.
The genre that really needed the space was Mexican and international rock, since after the ‘Festival Avándaro, Rock y Ruedas’ the genre suffered repression, and its bands, its albums, fanzines and everything that arose, had no place on TV or in the press, there were few places where Mexican rock and roll was played.
So with that background, many young people were eager to learn, to have material from both Mexico and abroad. Therefore, The Chopo Cultural Marketbecame the strongest platform that the genre needed since it was on the verge of boiling.
The road was not easy, for two years they got along and walked together, then came a breakup, the Chopo Cultural Market It began to grow and needed its own space.
This is how it began on Calle de El Chopo (now Enrique González Martínez), then in places such as Alameda de Santa María la Ribera, the esplanade of the UNAM Faculty of Architecture, a parking lot in Insurgentes, and is currently located on Aldama Street in the Guerrero neighborhood.
The famous market housed all branches of the genre from jazz, blues, rockabilly, metal, punk, etc. And thanks to its existence it helped the growth of rock and made foreign bands known in Mexico.
Then in September 2023, his resistance was recognized and he was declared “Intangible Cultural Heritage of CDMX“.
Now, before the anniversary celebration of both cultural entities, the Chopo University Museum, I call on “El Chopo in El Chopo”to carry out the activities they carried out in the beginning; and within the framework of their meeting, they took the opportunity to present a distinction to the more than 200 poplar farmers: “Give this recognition to the Tianguis Cultural de Chopo AC, for its contributions to the culture of music, barter and self-management. We are proud to be part of its history and remember the First Tianguis of musical publications and records, held on October 4, 1980 in our facilities and which gave rise to the Tianguis Cultural del popo. We celebrate its 45th anniversary and its status as Intangible Cultural Heritage of CDMX”, which was delivered to the culture committee, headed by Cesar Salas
The event lasted throughout the day with guest musicians, such as: Ramsés Luna and Miss Arpía and concluded with the presentation of the El Tri documentary: Esclavo del Rock and Roll, with the presence of director Luis Kelly, Alex Lora and El Tri, with free admission, which was also a treat because maestro Lora gave a small show.
