BLACK ETHNICITY 1
What type of music identifies the Black ethnic group in Panama?
Spanish reggae, calypso, soca, congo tamborito, and more recently dancehall
What traditional musical instruments are used?
Mainly congo drums, maracas, cuás (sticks), banjo, and calabashes, all linked to African and Afro-Caribbean roots.
What is Black Ethnicity Month and what is done to celebrate it?
During May, there are parades, workshops, Afro poetry contests, food fairs, school activities, and various efforts to promote Afro-descendant pride.
What is Black Ethnicity Day in Panama and when is it celebrated?
It is a day to recognize the contributions of Afro-descendants to the country. It is celebrated on May 30, especially in Colón and other Afro-descendant communities.
How does the Black ethnic group celebrate its identity in Panama?
With cultural activities during Black Ethnicity Month (May): parades, dances, food fairs, art exhibitions, and conferences about their history
What traditional clothing does the Black ethnic group in Panama wear during celebrations
Women usually wear colorful wide skirts with decorated blouses and headwraps or scarves. Men wear traditional shirts and hats or headscarves
What traditional language or dialect is spoken within Afro-Antillean culture?
Creole English or broken English, brought by Afro-Caribbean immigrants. Although less common today, it's still spoken in communities like Bocas del Toro and Colón.
What cultural initiatives exist to strengthen Afro identity in Panama?
Festivals such as Afrofestival Colón, the Festival of Congo, school programs, and exhibitions organized by the National Institute of Culture.
What does the headwrap represent in Afro-descendant clothing?
It is a symbol of identity, resistance, and African heritage. In many communities, it also represents pride and elegance.
What is the Festival of Diablos and Congos?
An Afro-colonial cultural expression that mixes dance, theater, and music to represent the battle between good (congos) and evil (diablos).
What traditional dances represent the Black ethnic group?
Bullarengue, congo drumming, maypole (Palo de Mayo) and other dances with energetic movements and African drum rhythms.
What is the cultural importance of traditional braids and hairstyles?
Braids are a form of cultural expression and resistance. Historically, some styles were used to hide seeds or maps during slavery.
What is the most visible cultural contribution of the Black ethnic group in Panama?
Music, gastronomy, festivities, and linguistic influence are pillars of Panama's national identity
What messages does Afro-descendant culture seek to express through its art?
What messages does Afro-descendant culture seek to express through its art?
What traditional foods from Afro-Antillean culture are eaten in Panama?
Dishes such as rice and beans with coconut, plantintá (plantain pie), saus, bon (sweet bread), and seafood seasoned with Caribbean spices.
Where can Afro culture be best appreciated in Panama?
In provinces such as Colón, Bocas del Toro, Panamá Oeste, Darién, and in neighborhoods of the capital like El Chorrillo, Río Abajo, and Curundú
How has Afro-descendant culture influenced Panamanian popular speech?
Expressions like "man," "cool," "irie," and "watagán" come from Afro-Antillean Creole English and have been adopted widely, especially in urban areas
How has the Black ethnic group influenced Panamanian urban art?
Afro-descendant culture has influenced street art and murals, especially in areas like El Chorrillo and Colón, where murals depict Afro figures, pride messages, and social struggles.
How has the Black ethnic group influenced Panamanian Spanish and slang?
It has contributed expressions and words like "fren" (friend), "pelao," "watagán," and particular speech intonations that have blended with Spanish in urban and popular settings
Where can Afro culture be best appreciated in Panama?
In provinces such as Colón, Bocas del Toro, Panamá Oeste, Darién, and in neighborhoods of the capital like El Chorrillo, Río Abajo, and Curundú.