Why were Daniel Viglietti’s songs banned in Uruguay?

During the 1970s, many Latin American governments viewed nueva canción and its artists as a serious threat to national stability due to the music's potent political force and populist message. In Uruguay, the government specifically targeted Daniel Viglietti, imprisoning him and banning his songs as part of a broader effort to suppress the movement.1

The suppression of these artists was a widespread phenomenon during this tumultuous era, as authorities sought to stifle the populist sentiment that the music cultivated. While Viglietti was eventually released following an international outcry, many other musicians across the region faced exile, imprisonment, or death for their role in using music to address the concerns of ordinary people and challenge the status quo.12