Panamanian Culture

Panama City is one of the most diverse cities in . A hybrid of Afro- Caribbean, European and Latin American cultures, the capital is home to a dynamic fusion of indigenous and modern influences. has had a very important and interesting history: The Isthmus of Panama has been the bridge that adjoins the Americas, shaping the development of life on the continent. The importance of the country has been magnified, in recent centuries, as it is also the shortest land route for the transport of maritime goods crossing from the Atlantic to the Pacific and vice-versa. As a result, the Isthmus has played a vital role throughout history. In early times, Panama enabled the movement of native people; in colonial times, it facilitated in assisting the flow of natural resources, as the country served as a commercial route for the transportation of gold and other commodities; and in modern times, the country has drastically altered global trade routes thanks to the existence of the country’s canal.

The country’s geographical location and its position as a meeting point in Latin American history have forged a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities from Europe, Africa, China and the Middle East, combined with those of the native-indigenous population. Panamanian culture can be described as a heterogeneous culture that has embraced elements from various communities that coexist peacefully within one of the smallest countries in Latin America. The culture of the country is the result of a merging process that has been going on for five centuries, since the Spanish settlement, and it is a hybrid that keeps evolving.

Panamanian Heritage

The rich Panamanian heritage can be appreciated in the country’s sounds, cuisine, traditions and folklore. In fact, the country’s ethnic diversity is reflected in the traditional products such as woodcarvings, ceremonial masks and pottery, woven baskets, as well as in its architecture, cuisine, arts, music, dance and festivals.

Art

Panamanian art varies from the traditional indigenous molas, to modern frescoes and to diverse architectural styles. Past generations have each left their mark, combining styles from different beliefs and traditions. Throughout the interior of the city, simple colorful homes and plazas stand as an imprint of the past. Panama’s capital, , on the contrary, is filled with skyscrapers and even street art as to promote a more urban culture. In the capital, former U.S. school buses, which are now a form of public transport, are given a complete makeover, in which favorite Panamanian icons and even family members are depicted in bright colors and in an imaginative style.

Panama has a diverse group of indigenous cultures that play an important role in the country’s cultural and artistic diversity. There are seven distinct indigenous cultures, which are further divided into four major indigenous groups: the the Ngöbe-Buglé (Guaymi), the Kuna, the Emberá/Wounaan and the Naso (Teribe)/Bri-bri. The various examples of indigenous arts and crafts in Panama continue to be a symbol of national pride, furthering the use of color and the natural surroundings as an inspiration to their designs. Some examples of the use of bright colors can be found in the clothing of the Guna and Ngabe women, as well as in their art crafts: the molas of the Gunas, the chaquiras (beaded jewelry), and the chácaras (string bags) of the Ngobe, and even in the woven baskets of the Embera.

Music and Dance

Panama is one of the richest countries when it comes to traditional music and dances. Panamanians love to gather together and dance, whether it is amongst friends and family or while celebrating local or national celebrations.

An example of folkloric dance is the Tamborito. Tamborito, which means “small drum”, is a dance that comes from a mix of Hispanic (Spanish) and African traditional dances. The rhythm is based on the “Congo”, a folkloric dance from the Province of Colon that was introduced by the African Slaves in the Sixteenth century.

Contemporary or Modern Music consists in salsa, merengue, cumbia, Spanish reggae and reggaetón.

Traditional Clothes

The Pinta’o Hat, is a traditional Panamanian hat and the art of weaving the hat has been added, in 2017, to the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the UNESCO.

The Pollera, is the typical dress for the Panamanian women. The polleras are handmade and are usually only worn during festivals or celebrations. They are mainly made of cotton and wool. The dominant color in the dress is white with adornments of colorful flower designs. A single pollera can take up to a year to create and the traditional jewelry and headwear used to complete the look, called mosquetas and tembleques, are passed down as heirlooms through generations.

Cultural Site: Casco Viejo

The ancient city of Panama, Casco Viejo, is a site of great historical and architectural importance that was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO on December 6th, 1997. In this area, the visitors can see buildings with colonial, French, Neoclassical and African architecture.

This place preserves the first institutions and buildings of the modern city of Panama such as “El Palacio de las Garzas”, which is the governmental office and residence of the President of Panama; the National Theatre of Panama and the Church of San Jose, to name a few.

Panamanian Museums

The best overview of Panamanian culture and heritage can be found in different museums located in the capital city such as the Museum of Natural Science, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Museum of the and the Biomuseo.

Folklore museums are the most common types of museums. Historical museums, like the Panama Canal Museum, are also an important factor in our Heritage. The Panama Canal Museum, the most visited museum in the country, is devoted to the history of the construction of the Panama Canal in its various stages; it is also known for hosting many temporary exhibitions every year on different topics in the fields of culture, architecture, history and environmental conservation.

A setback in the museum field is that the country does not have an Anthropological museum. In fact, Panama is currently the only Central American country without such a museum. This poses a problem since most of the recently discovered pre-columbian artefacts are hidden from the public view.

Panamanian museums have not been very well administrated since the Panamanian government has not contributed with the cultural development of the city. There has been, then, a lack of coordination between the rapid economic growth and the cultural sector of the country. Most of the museums in Panama still survive on personal contributions from the visitors which causes the museums to not generate enough income to continuously provide for new exhibitions and educational programs.

The situation has changed, and recently, the Museum and Heritage Field has gained a new importance and meaning. An example of this change is the Biomuseo, or also known as The Biodiversity Museum: Panama Bridge of Life. The museum was designed by Frank Gehry and is a colorful, origami-like building that showcases Panama’s incredible biodiversity. This museum opened in 2014 and is a wonderful place to learn about Panama’s fascinating geology, natural history and culture. The opening of the Biomuseo has helped to give back the attention that museums were previously missing and since then, many art museums and art galleries opened, recently, in the colonial part of our city: Casco Viejo.