Drums in his neighbourhood and a wake in parliament: Uruguay bids farewell to Ruben Rada

MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Thursday, August 27th 2026 - 21:43 UTC

The wake drew political figures from across the spectrum

Uruguay bade farewell on Thursday to musician Ruben Rada with a wake open to the public at the Legislative Palace, the seat of parliament, after hundreds of people had gathered the previous night with drums in the neighbourhood where he grew up, with no official summons involved.

The executive declared a day of official mourning. The decree signed by President Yamandú Orsi ordered the national flag flown at half mast at all public buildings, embassies abroad, barracks, fortresses, air bases and warships, and provided for funeral honours and for the costs of the burial to be met by the National Treasury. The resolution authorising the wake in the Salón de los Pasos Perdidos, between 2pm and 9pm, was signed by Vice-President Carolina Cosse in her capacity as president of the General Assembly.