The Paraguayan city of Encarnación played host to a momentous celebration: the centenary of the guarania (a genre of Paraguayan music), marked by a massive festival. The event underscored the genre’s significance as a national symbol.
More than 3,000 people gathered along Encarnación’s historic Costanera for the event. A highlight was a captivating mapping projection displayed on the former mill and silo. This projection incorporated the historical humming of José Asunción Flores, the guarania‘s creator in 1925, evoking the genre’s essence.
Musical performances
The festival showcased over 50 musicians from the National Popular Music Orchestra. Masters Luis Álvarez and Óscar Fadlala led the orchestra, alongside renowned national performers. These included Ricardo Flecha, Andrea Valobra, Purahéi Soul, Juan Toli Núñez, Vicky Díaz, and Orlando Caballero. Local artists from Itapúa also participated, among them Rebeca Arramendi, Ymaguaréicha, Walter Cataldo, Vito Kruger, and Salvador García.
Paraguayan President Santiago Peña presided over the central ceremony of the National Year of the Guarania. Culture Minister Adriana Ortiz offered moving words, stating, “The guarania is much more than music. It is poetry made melody, the voice of the peasant people, the nostalgia of our migrants, the hope of the young, the memory of our elders. It is our identity converted into song.”
UNESCO recognition
The commemoration held special significance in 2025. This year, UNESCO recognised the guarania as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This recognition further solidifies its status as a powerful emblem of Paraguayan identity.
Organised by the Paraguayan government, through the National Secretariat of Culture, the festival received support from several entities. These included the National Secretariat of Tourism, the Artistic Directorate of the National Popular Music Orchestra, the Municipality of Encarnación, and the Itapúa Governorate.
Looking ahead
The National Festival served as a platform for the Paraguayan government to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first guarania, “Jejuí”. It also renewed the government’s commitment to preserving and promoting this genre. The guarania, a collective song transcending borders, continues to unite tradition and modernity.
