This document discusses the history and culture of the Black ethnicity in Panama. It notes that May 30th is commemorated as the date that slavery was abolished in Spain in 1820. The Black population in Panama originated in the 1850s with workers brought to build the railway. Today, 41% of Panama's population has some African ancestry. The document then focuses on the traditional Baile Congo dance which originated from African tribal dances and has been kept alive by descendants. It closes by discussing how Afro-centric fashion is growing in popularity for its comfort, vibrant colors, and ability to define one's ethnic roots.
This document discusses the history and culture of the Black ethnicity in Panama. It notes that May 30th is commemorated as the date that slavery was abolished in Spain in 1820. The Black population in Panama originated in the 1850s with workers brought to build the railway. Today, 41% of Panama's population has some African ancestry. The document then focuses on the traditional Baile Congo dance which originated from African tribal dances and has been kept alive by descendants. It closes by discussing how Afro-centric fashion is growing in popularity for its comfort, vibrant colors, and ability to define one's ethnic roots.
This document discusses the history and culture of the Black ethnicity in Panama. It notes that May 30th is commemorated as the date that slavery was abolished in Spain in 1820. The Black population in Panama originated in the 1850s with workers brought to build the railway. Today, 41% of Panama's population has some African ancestry. The document then focuses on the traditional Baile Congo dance which originated from African tribal dances and has been kept alive by descendants. It closes by discussing how Afro-centric fashion is growing in popularity for its comfort, vibrant colors, and ability to define one's ethnic roots.
Our country celebrates the Black Ethnicity, the whole
month of May, however the 30th is the official date of commemoration, thanks to the sanction of law 9 of the year 2000.
The history of this special date lies in the fact that on
May 30, 1820, King Ferdinand VII of Spain abolished the slave trade law in its territory, influenced by blacks belonging to the French National Assembly at the time of the revolution.
The population that includes the black ethnic group in
Panama has its origin between 1850, at the beginning of the construction of the railway, when they were brought to carry out these works. Since those times they have remained in our territory, forming part of it, contributing their culture and their customs.
41% of the Panamanian population is Afro-
descendant by miscegenation, this percentage is composed by 5% of black race, 24% mulattos and 12% zambos. This group is known as Afro- Panamanians THE DANCE The Baile Congo, is the most representative of the black race, which has its origins in the tribal dances of Africa and arises as a response of the slaves before their pain and deprivation. This dance is the oral chronicle of the struggle between good and evil, together with Spanish religious beliefs, in the middle of his life, in the new continent. The slaves who revealed themselves to the Spanish crown, called cimarrones, were the ones who gave it strength and transcendence, to this day. His descendants practice it in the so-called Congos de Portobelo. This dance mixes choreographies and improvisations, with colorful disfrases and colorful masks, which features the interaction of ten characters, the most important being: the Devil, the Archangel, the Queen and the Lord Cure. In an atmosphere of African and Caribbean music, the room of the restaurant Centolla "s Place became the stage where the black ethnic group closed the activities of its first anniversary within the Panamanian holidays. From the early hours of the night of June 2, blacks of all shades, as Professor Grace de Clark, teacher of ceremony to the different ethnic groups, made an appearance to appreciate the folkloric and gastronomic sample, with traditional dances and meals of the Negroes of Colón, Darién and Bocas del Toro, provinces where black culture predominates. Once the evening was over, the attendants between men and women, dressed in African and Afro- Caribbean designs, occupied the tables decorated for the occasion; with centers of tables in which there was coconut, corn, fruits, besides napkins that evoked the African jungles. The way to dress and, more importantly, to interpret its appearance, gains much more ground in the broad field of fashion. For 5 considerable factors we see that the Afro-centric fashion is growing in popularity not only in its continent of origin but all over the world, especially in the countries where its greatest remnant is found such as Europe and the Americas. Simply, Afro fashion is liked by the following factors: 1. Define your model either woman or man with your ethnic roots. 2. Comfort - the fabrics that are used in the making of these wonderful garments are usually very comfortable for all types of weather. Likewise, the wide design, with loose sleeves, allowing ventilation of the human body, allows the wearer to stay cool and hydrated. It is a very ecological style of dress. 3. Very "Fashion" - the attire of the Black Ethnicity never loses its freshness on the catwalks of the world. It is always fashionable and always inspires many designers. 4. Color- It adapts to any imaginable combination of colors. Whether they are sober colors or bright colors 5. Transcends gender- Both women and men find in Afro-centric fashion a clear expression of their own style.