Asunción immortalizes accordion maestro Santos Lima with a street name

The capital city of Asunción has officially honored the legacy of the celebrated Paraguayan musician Santos Lima by naming a street after him. The new street, located in the Mburicaó neighborhood, now bears the name of the accordion virtuoso, who passed away in 2018.

This municipal recognition, formalized through Ordinance N.º 208/2025, follows a significant international tribute earlier this year. In February, Indiana University's Latin American Music Center accepted the donation of Santos Lima's extensive phonographic and documentary archive. This collection will provide researchers and musicians worldwide with access to his manuscripts, recordings, and visual records, ensuring the preservation of his artistic heritage.

Santos Jorge Augusto Lima Benítez, known professionally as Santos Lima, was born in Asunción in 1936. He became a master of the accordion, an instrument he wielded throughout a decades-long career in folk music. He was a key figure in both popular and chamber music, performing with groups such as Los Románticos del Paraguay and directing Los Hidalgos.

His notable compositions include "Penumbra," "Mi Serenata," and "Lo Mitãme guarã." In 2014, he premiered the symphonic piece "La Gran Epopeya" at the Ignacio A. Pane Municipal Theater, a work inspired by the War Against the Triple Alliance. This street naming and the archival preservation underscore Lima's enduring impact on Paraguayan culture and music.