Pre-Hispanic Acoustic Guitar Making Sustains Community in Southwestern Mexico New China TV
go to original June 7, 2017

The indigenous community on the Purepecha Plateau in Mexico’s southwestern state of Michoacan distinguishes itself by making acoustic guitars in a pre-Hispanic way.

Out of over 120 years of history, thousands of the craftspeople have scattered around the world, driving many musicians to think Michoacan as the world capital of acoustic guitars.

Within the region, more than 60 percent of the population has some connection with guitar making, a tradition passed down through generations.

Currently, there are about 1,500 guitar workshops, where at least 10,000 people are financially supported by the craft, with an average guitar costing 200 pesos, and the best one 50,000 pesos.

As years went on, large factories have loomed large here to produce serial guitars, shoulder by shoulder with still booming family workshops to sustain the tradition learned since the pre-Hispanic times.

We invite you to add your charity or supporting organizations' news stories and coming events to PVAngels so we can share them with the world. Do it now!