Authorities across Mexico have moved to ban narcocorridos, corridos tumbados and corridos bélicos all sub-genres of the popular Mexican genre know as corridos, in public spaces and heavy fines, arguing they glorify criminal behaviour. Corridos are a form of traditional folk music, telling stories of battles and love, and, more recently, highlighting crime, poverty, and defiance of authority. Critics warn that efforts to ban these songs not only threaten artistic freedom but also divert attention from the social issues these songs highlight—poverty, systemic violence, and state neglect.
In her article for Cartel Urbano, Diana Arévalo, Freemuse Regional Researcher on Latin America, refers to cultural experts who reject the idea that corridos promote crime. Instead, they see these musical expressions as responses to structural injustice—of communities grappling with exclusion and inequality.
With corridos dominating Mexican streaming platforms and generating major economic value, attempts to silence them may backfire—further boosting their popularity and symbolic power. Diana Arévalo explores this tension between suppression and expression, and why banning music may do more harm than good in the fight for social justice.
Read the full article in English here.
The original article in Spanish can be found here: https://cartelurbano.com/bulla/que-tienen-los-corridos-de-prohibido
