panama
what it is
Panama is a Central American country, inhabited mostly by mestizos (persons of mixed African, European and indigenous ancestry). The music of Panama was influenced first by the indigenous populations of Kunas, Teribes, Nobe Bugle, and others, and then by the black population who were brought over, first as slaves from Africa, and also Colombia between the 16th century and the 19th century, and then voluntarily (especially from Jamaica, Barbados, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Trinidad, and Saint Lucia) to work on the Panamanian Railroad and Canal projects between the 1840s and 1914. With this heritage, Panama has a rich and diverse music history, and important contributions to Cumbia, Saloma, Pasillo, Punto, Tamborito, Mejorana, Bolero, Jazz, Salsa, Reggae, Calypso, Rock and other musical genres.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 1 · mainstream
the pop everyone knows
level 3 · one step out
cult favorites and indie darlings
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make panama a playlist
turn these 24 artists into something you can press play on.
✦ nearby genres
questions
What is panama?
Panama is a Central American country, inhabited mostly by mestizos (persons of mixed African, European and indigenous ancestry). The music of Panama was influenced first by the indigenous populations of Kunas, Teribes, Nobe Bugle, and others, and then by the black population who were brought over, first as slaves from Africa, and also Colombia between the 16th century and the 19th century, and then voluntarily (especially from Jamaica, Barbados, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Trinidad, and Saint Lucia) to work on the Panamanian Railroad and Canal projects between the 1840s and 1914. With this heritage, Panama has a rich and diverse music history, and important contributions to Cumbia, Saloma, Pasillo, Punto, Tamborito, Mejorana, Bolero, Jazz, Salsa, Reggae, Calypso, Rock and other musical genres.
What are good panama albums to start with?
Try Demphra by La Factoria, Siembra by Willie Colón, Hope for Something by Panama, and Siembra by Willie Colón & Ruben Blades.
Who are some women making panama?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/panama/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making panama, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-21