A digital platform is giving new life to Paraguay’s literary heritage. The Oremba’e library (meaning “What is ours” in Guaraní language) brings together more than 14,000 poetic works. These works were originally published in the historic magazine Ysyry between 1942 and 1995. The initiative to digitise this content was launched by the Global Peace Foundation and the Patria Soñada Institute.
Preserving Paraguay’s cultural and linguistic legacy
Recognised as a project of cultural interest by the National Secretariat of Culture, the Guaraní Project – Ysyry Magazine seeks to preserve and share Paraguay’s literary wealth. The initiative safeguards decades of creative expression. Also, the project promotes appreciation of the Guaraní language and its poetic power.
Alongside the virtual archive, the bilingual book Che Ñe’ẽ, Che Purahéi (My Word, My Song) has been launched. It features 200 works by celebrated authors such as Emiliano R. Fernández, Manuel Ortiz Guerrero, and Félix Giménez, as well as contributions from popular and amateur poets.
Earlier this year, the project was introduced to the public during Guaraní Heritage Revival: Musical Tribute Celebrates Lost Paraguayan Literary Treasures. The event gathered representatives from the Global Peace Foundation. The celebration also brought together delegates from the governments of the United States, Taiwan, and Paraguay. Organisers presented the initiative alongside a moving musical tribute featuring traditional polkas and guaranias, honouring the voices of Paraguay’s literary past.
From forgotten boxes to a digital revival
The remarkable story of Ysyry’s recovery began in 2008. Former US Ambassador to Paraguay, James Cason, unexpectedly received a package containing 271 copies of the magazine. The sender’s identity remains a mystery, but the collection, spanning over five decades of literary creation, found an unlikely guardian in Cason, who kept it safe in his US residence.
Years later, the Global Peace Foundation and the Patria Soñada Institute received the materials. Both organisations undertook the meticulous work of preservation and digitisation. The process began in 2023, allowing the team to digitalise nearly 20,000 literary pieces, of which 14,000 now form the Oremba’e library.
A living archive for future generations
Ysyry magazine covered a wide range of topics, from the wars of the Triple Alliance and the Chaco to themes of love, humour, exile, and homeland. Many poems celebrate mothers, local communities, and friendships among poets, painting a vivid picture of Paraguay’s emotional and cultural landscape.
With the launch of Oremba’e, the Global Peace Foundation and Patria Soñada Institute, supported by the National Secretariat of Culture, hope to ensure this vast poetic legacy continues to inspire and connect generations.
The digital library is free to access to the public at Oremba’e official website.
