The zonkeys or los burrocebras of Tijuana
Have you ever visited Tijuana?
Chances are you will recognize this cultural icon of the border city or even have an aged photograph in a box somewhere of a one-of-a-kind family portrait.
When did this tradition start?
The earliest photograph of a tourist to Tijuana posing with a donkey dates back to 1914.
Why did painting stripes on the donkeys become a tradition?
According to Josué Beltrán, a professor at the Autonomous University of Baja California, it was not just a fun stunt for the gringos. Back in the early 20th century the light-colored donkeys would not appear in photographs of black and white cameras. To address this issue the early photographers tested out some solutions and the striped strategy was born.
Where can you see them today?
While this tradition has dwindled due to the rise of digital and camera phone technology, a few zonkeys with their quintessential folkloric portrait ensemble of a painted scene, zarapes and sombreros of Tijuana persist along the border community’s principal street, the famous Avenida Revolucion. This phenomenon also spread to other border town’s like Nogales, Sonora although the striping custom seems to be 100% Tijuanese.
How has this tradition merged with regional identity?
The Mexican professional basketball team of Tijuana is named the Zonkeys and was founded in 2010, winning back-to- back championships from 2014-2015.
A group of concerned Tijuana citizens have urged the state government of Baja California Norte to declare the zonkeys as part of the region’s cultural heritage and to develop a fund for business training of the photographers and veterinary care of the donkeys. They succeeded in 2014, with the tradition being recorded in the state government’s official register.