"The streets of the Sur and Palermo neighbourhoods were filled with people who attended the San Baltazhar Call parade, a traditional celebration that commemorates Epiphany and reclaims Afro-Uruguayan culture. Footage recorded this Monday in Montevideo shows dozens of comparsas which, with drums and colourful costumes, danced to the rhythm of candombe, a cultural expression recognised as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. "And today, in 2026, we continue to reclaim and educate the generations to come so that it is known how important the drum is for Uruguay in African heritage," said Angel Arevalo, Member of the Ansina Tradicion comparsa. According to Arevalo, since colonial times there has been a custom of playing percussion instruments to remember African roots. "Going out along the avenue, playing drums, was a wonderful act that brought together love for what came from Africa," he explained. As part of the celebration, San Baltazhar is also honoured, a saint created by the Catholic Church upon the arrival of African slaves in the country, which fuels the Afro-descendant identity of the region. The parade usually ends at the House of Afro-Uruguayan Culture, in the Palermo neighbourhood, in order to commemorate Afro-descendant ethnic groups who were evicted during the 19th century. "Here we live, here we fight and here we will continue to be, because we need a united Latin America for invisibilised ethnic groups," said Chavela Ramirez, Director of the House of Afro-Uruguayan Culture. The origins of the festivity date back to colonial times, around 1830, recalling the community's past and celebrating its ties to music and dance. "