Tamales Oaxaqueños (Mexican street food vendor)

Apr 02, 2020, 11:06 AM

Mexico City lockdown sound recorded by Eloisa Sanchez de Alba.

"Yesterday the Mexican government declared national emergency because of the pandemic. They are asking people to stay home voluntarily but there are millions that can't afford this, the majority of inhabitants of Mexico City live on informal commerce. 

"In this audio you hear the "tamales oaxaqueños" (Oaxaca style tamales) guy. Almost in every neighborhood there's a guy that comes every night, slowly riding a big tricycle with this same recording playing at full volume so people in their houses hear he is coming.  

"These guys sell "tamales", a very Latin American dish made of corn dough wrapped in a corn husk or banana leaf which is cooked with steam. Tamales can be filled with meats, vegetables, chilies or any preparation; Oaxaca is a region in the south of the country that has its own style of tamales. 

"You are at home and you hear the guy is coming from far because of the recording, so you have to run quickly outside to be able to catch the guy before he leaves, because he only stops if someone is buying tamales, so you better be quick. 

"The voice repeats over and over the same thing: "I have Oaxacan tamales, warm tamales. They are here, your delicious and yummy Oaxacan tamales. Ask for your yummy Oaxacan tamales. Come closer and ask for your Oaxacan tamales".

"You can hear some nightfall birds singing in the background and the cars passing near my house, I live very close to a very big avenue. The photo is what I see from my window at night."

Part of the #StayHomeSounds project, documenting the sounds of the global coronavirus lockdown around the world - for more information, see http://www.citiesandmemory.com/covid19-sounds