El chamamé en Paraguay
A rhythm from Argentina's river-plate littoral that is also played and danced in Paraguay.
What it is
The chamamé is a music and dance from Corrientes and northeast Argentina, inscribed by UNESCO in 2020 as Intangible Cultural Heritage at Argentina's request. It is also played in Paraguay, southern Brazil and northwest Uruguay. Its origin is debated: the strongest theory ties it to Guaraní tradition, blended with the influences of the European immigrants of the littoral. In Paraguay it lives alongside the polka and the rasguido doble, sharing a borderland feel with them.
Did you know…?
The sharp cry called sapukái, typical of the chamamé, comes from a Guaraní word meaning 'to shout'.
Listen to
Keep your ears open at festivals in the south and the river littoral, where chamamé and rasguido doble are played.
Music & dance
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 3 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.