Panama’s Black community promises to offer some new and exciting events for the month of May in its Celebration of Black Ethnicity. Panama is preparing to welcome representatives from African countries and their descendants in the first Afro Festival 2012 organized by government as well as non-governmental organizations. Continue reading
Far from rosy, the economic picture for many Westindian Panamanians during the early 1950’s was often precarious and always overshadowed by the possibility of losing their jobs on the Zone. Either through Reduction of Force notifications, through being accused of being a communist sympathizer or several other often arbitrary devices used by the Canal administration, the end result was losing one’s job. Continue reading
Michita, Panamanian style.
Image thanks to elpollo.com.pa
The days of my early childhood and adolescence in Panama were my days of exposure to popular culture where, from time to time and at government expense, we were offered opportunities to stay after school protected from the streets.
It was also a time for all kids attending public school to shake off inhibitions and pride and accept the offer of the glass of warm oatmeal porridge and a small loaf of micha bread during morning class. I say loaf because in those days the micha was large and generous not the poor excuse of a piece of bread we are sold today. Continue reading
Leslie "Chino" Williams
Little did I know that my marching band debut of 1952 would mark the end of our government’s role in providing “totally free” cultural presentations, really memorable events, to the people of Panama. Continue reading
Posted in Culture in Panama
Tagged Arturo LeConte, Hugo Wood, Leslie "Chino" Williams, Radio Station HOG
This is a sample cartelera from a Latin American tour. Image from holidayonice.com
Right now I am involved in workshops at the National Assembly’s Commission on Education, Culture and Sports to hammer out a law (Proyecto de Ley #416) that would transform our beleaguered and under-funded INAC (Instituto Nacional de Cultura) into a full Ministry. It was long overdue in my opinion. Continue reading
Posted in Culture in Panama, Music of Panama
Tagged Armando-Boza, Beny-More, cultural exclusion, racism-in-Panama
Image thanks to bloguez.com
In today’s headlines here in Panama we received yet another blow to the image of our beloved Panama in our foreign relations. The case revolves around the Embassy of Panama in Brazil. We leave you, our respected readers, to formulate your own opinions about this grave matter. We’ve translated the La Prensa article but, you may read the original in Spanish here. Continue reading
