Music and Art in Panama: Traditions and Modern Influence
Music & Artistic Expression in Panama
Panama pulses with a rich artistic heartbeat. Many of its most cherished folkloric traditions stem from the Azuero Peninsula, often considered the cultural heartland of the country. It’s in this region where music, dance, and visual art continue to thrive as living legacies.
🎶 Folk Sounds & Modern Beats
Traditional Panamanian music features instruments like the accordion, mejoranera (a five-string guitar), bocana (four-string guitar), wooden drums, and the guáchara (a notched instrument played with a stick). Folk songs often include saloma singing, a style akin to yodeling.
Over time, these traditional melodies have merged with contemporary styles into what is known locally as música típica—a fusion of folkloric roots and modern rhythms. Icons of this genre include the sibling duo Samy y Sandra Sandoval and accordion virtuoso Ulpiano Vergara.
You’ll also frequently hear reggaetón in the streets of Panama. Although its current stars are mostly Puerto Rican, the genre has roots in Panamanian innovators such as El General and Nando Boom from the early 1990s.
Panama also boasts a vibrant rock scene, with bands like Los Rabanes, Cage9, Los 33, Polyphase, and Son Miserables bridging English and Spanish in their music. In cities, jazz and classical concerts draw audiences who appreciate more formal musical expressions.
On the global stage, Rubén Blades stands out as Panama’s most famous artist. Once a partner of Willie Colón, Blades transitioned from salsa stardom to acting, and eventually to politics, serving as Panama’s Minister of Tourism.
💃 Dances & Folklore in Motion
Wherever folk music plays, dancing usually follows. The tamborito is perhaps the most emblematic dance: women don polleras (traditional embroidered dresses), while men dress in white or black pants and crisp shirts, often wearing a sombrero pintado (painted hat). The rhythm is driven by drums, as dancers move in coordinated steps.
Other folkloric dances include:
Mejorana: a gentle courtship dance
Congos: rooted in African heritage
Balsería: performed by the Ngöbe-Buglé, involving balsa poles tossed among dancers
Festivals like Carnaval amplify the music, dance, and celebratory spirit nationwide. Religious gatherings also feature unique musical traditions depending on locale and faith.
🖼️ Visual Arts & Literary Voices
Panama has produced distinguished visual artists across generations. In earlier years, Guillermo Trujillo and Alfredo Sinclair stood out for their innovative styles. The legendary Roberto Lewis painted large murals mixing myth and history, with enduring works still seen in the Teatro Nacional and the presidential palace.
Contemporary artists also make their mark: Brooke Alfaro, Isabel de Obaldía, and Sheila Lichacz explore social themes, indigenous crafts, and pre-Columbian forms in their pieces.
In indigenous communities, you’ll find molas created by the Guna people—intricate hand-stitched textile art. The Emberá-Wounaan craft woven baskets and carve cocobolo wood and tagua nuts into symbolic art.
Literature in Panama often grapples with identity, memory, and history. Ricardo Miró, honored as El Poeta de Panamá, and novelist Rogelio Sinán are foundational figures. Nowadays, authors like Enrique Jaramillo Levi, Ernesto Endara, and Rosa María Britton continue exploring Panama’s narrative through poetry, stories, and plays. Many theatrical works are performed in Panama City, and some even appear in English.
Panama’s musical rhythms, vibrant colors, and poetic expressions intertwine into a vibrant cultural tapestry—everywhere you look, there’s an echo of tradition, innovation, and identity.
