The town of Ocú, in Panama’s Herrera province, became the epicenter of national mourning and celebration of folklore on Friday, September 11, as hundreds gathered for the final funeral honors of Dagoberto “Yin” Carrizo, the legendary accordionist known as “El Romántico del Acordeón.” With the district flag flying at half-staff in the central park, the people of Ocú gave a deeply emotional farewell to one of the most beloved figures in Panamanian popular music.
What Happened
The day began at the Carrizo Cedeño family residence on Calle Paraíso, where the Holy Rosary had been prayed the night before. The home had been transformed into a gallery of the musician’s life, displaying paintings of his own inspiration and the recognitions he earned over his career. His ashes rested there among white flowers, one of his last accordions, and the emblematic long-play album Yin Carrizo el Cantor de la Patria.
From the family home, a moving procession on foot carried the ashes some three blocks to the San Sebastián Parish, accompanied by townspeople dressed mostly in white. The solemn Mass was presided over by the Archbishop of Panama, Monsignor José Domingo Ulloa, accompanied by the Bishop of Chitré, Monsignor Rafael Valdivieso Miranda, and parish priest Orlando González. Traditional music filled the ceremony, performed by violinists Rubén Almanza, Enrique Carrizo and Edwin Martínez.
In his homily, directed especially to the musicians who create popular culture, Ulloa described Carrizo as “the essence of our nationality.” “His accordion falls silent, but his music remains alive. Viva Panamá stirs the fibers of who we are,” the archbishop said.
After the religious service, the church broke its silence with a cultural tribute performed by five folk accordionists, all past winners of the national prize that bears Yin Carrizo’s name. To the sound of generational anthems such as Julia, Lucy and La inspiración de mi acordeón, the funeral procession made its way to the Municipal Cemetery of Ocú, where the maestro’s ashes were laid to rest.
Background
Yin Carrizo was born in Ocú, a district in the province of Herrera widely regarded as one of the cradles of Panama’s folkloric tradition. His nickname, “El Romántico del Acordeón,” reflected a career devoted to the típico music of the interior, and his recordings became touchstones of Panamanian cultural identity. A national music prize carries his name, underscoring the official recognition of his contribution to the country’s artistic heritage.
The ceremony drew members of Panama’s folkloric community, including fellow musicians such as Alfredo “Fello” Escudero, as well as cultural figures like the Reina del Manito, reflecting the breadth of respect Carrizo commanded across the traditional music world.
What This Means for Panama
The farewell in Ocú was more than a funeral — it was a reaffirmation of national identity. Archbishop Ulloa used the occasion to issue a powerful call to Panama’s artistic community, urging them to see their role as guardians of collective memory. “You don’t just liven up a party or a stage — you safeguard memory. In your hands is a piece of the soul of our homeland,” he said, adding that when artists perform this art, “an elderly person returns for a few moments to their youth. Someone remembers their parents or grandparents. A child discovers something about the land where they were born. And a Panamanian living far away can close their eyes and, for an instant, be home again. An entire homeland can fit inside a melody.”
Ulloa also pointed toward the future of folklore in Panama, declaring: “The best tribute is that we can educate children to love folklore, so that our great artists have not only admirers, but also disciples.”
With his ashes now resting in the Municipal Cemetery of Ocú, Yin Carrizo completes his transition, as mourners described it, from physical presence to the eternal heritage of Panamanian music — an accordion that has fallen silent, but a melody that continues to define what it means to be Panamanian.
This story was originally reported by La Prensa.