Mexican activists hack Viennese museum’s audioguide in protest over its ownership of the   Montezuma headdress

Two Mexican activists infiltrated the Weltmuseum in Vienna last week, swapping its audio guides for their own hacked versions to protest the history and ownership of the headdress of Moctezuma.In the modified audioguide, Xokonoschtletl Gómora, a descendant of the Aztecs who has repeatedly called for the crown to be returned to Mexico, describes the artefact’s arrival in Vienna as “a consequence of the European looting of the historical heritage that is exhibited in various museums on that continent such as Austria, France, Spain, England and Germany”.

El UNIVERSAL
A man's fight to recover “the sacred crown”

Since 1993, Xokonoschtletl Gómora, traditional dancer and indigenous culture activist, embarked on a mission that has turned out to be impossible: secure the return of Moctezuma's Headdress to Mexico. It's a “sacred crown" that, according to him, holds infinity in its 400 quetzal feathers and “represents political, economic, social, and spiritual power.”

“For me, this a full-time mission, it's the reason of my existence because, as a Mexican, one of my obligations is to make sure Mexico becomes a better place but it cannot improve unless it grounds itself on ancient knowledge,” he said during an interview.

Aztec storyteller and cultural advocate works to preserve the ‘true’ Mexican culture

Xokonoschtletl Gomora is from Tabasco, Mexico. He lives off the land raising cattle and chickens. He is a trained tourist guide, and has learned to speak five languages. He has written several books on the history and culture of Mexico, some of which were written in German.