A Cuban identified as Federico went viral on TikTok for singing on a bus in Uruguay a personal adaptation of "Guantanamera" that he named "la aguantanamera," written especially for Montevideo.
The video, published on April 22, shows Federico introducing himself to the bus passengers before starting to sing his song.
"I'm going to make a song from back home, from my land. I am from Cuba, and I have been here for eight years," he says at the beginning of the clip, which lasts just over three minutes.
Federico acknowledges that time and living together have made an impact on him: "I've really picked up the accent, because no matter how much you try not to, it always sticks to you."
However, she clarifies that this does not mean losing one’s roots: "You always want to maintain your identity."
The musician also expresses a genuine affection for his host country: "I really like this people, I like Uruguay a lot."
Regarding the song, he explains that he has been working on it for months: “A few months ago, I was writing some things for here, an adaptation of 'La Guantanamera' for Montevideo, for Uruguay.”
Additionally, he announces that the formal recording is coming soon: "In these days I am going to record it, so you will hear it out there on social media, God willing."
The clip also includes a section that Federico dedicates especially to the women in the bus audience.
It's not the first time that a Cuban goes viral singing on a Uruguayan bus: in January of this year, another musician from the Island had a similar moment that also garnered thousands of views on TikTok.
The Cuban community residing in Uruguay is large and very active on social media, with numerous viral cases that reflect both pride in Cuban roots and integration into Uruguayan society.
In May 2025, another compatriot residing in the southern country also caught attention on TikTok by explaining why he prefers to stay in Uruguay rather than emigrate to the United States, highlighting job stability as the main reason.
Uruguay has become one of the preferred migration destinations for Cubans in recent years, thanks to its political and social stability and a relatively accessible legal residency process.
"La aguantanamera" by Federico has already reached 58,900 plays, 5,249 likes, and 411 shares on TikTok, and its author promises that the studio-recorded version will soon be available on social media.
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