The SAMAAP Fair

by Earl Patrick Watson

"During these 20 years SAMAAP has struggled to remain as a group, structured and organized with a high level of consistency and integrity… — we are a group with strong criteria, but very united and solid." These were the words of Dr. Carlos Smith, president of the Sociedad de Amigos del Museo Afro-Antillano de Panamá (SAMAAP), in his inaugural address last December. The echoing of these words was a vivid chant as the SAMAAP Antillean Fair got underway on February 24 and 25, the first two days of Carnival. The grounds of the West Indian Museum held a distinctive conglomeration of Panama’s multi-ethnic community even as blacks dominated the affair.

Dr. Carlos Smith and his board of directors, barely two months old, organized what may have been the most attractive fair held by SAMAAP. Both days averaged close to two thousand strong and this year’s activities extended till way past dusk, with music and an air of enjoyment being the order.

The fair opened at around 10 a.m., and for the first two or three hours people trickled in while vendors set up stands and others made their way to a place out of the sun but aimed for center stage for good viewing. By late evening the fair grounds were crowded and the activities in full swing as most early arrivals finished savoring the best of West Indian food while the late comers inched through the crowd searching for their choice of food and edging beside the early birds for a seat anywhere. Discoteca Bulgin pumped out musical vibes in Spanish and English that kept everyone tapping, humming or with a side-to-side rock and swing. Reggae singers included Killerank, Ness and Rene Renegado.

Rev. Julio Murray, the Anglican bishop of Panama, gave the benediction. Photo by Earl Patrick Watson

As dusk set in Panama’s Ernie King and his Grupo Kabir entertained with Motown’s Songs of the Sixties and a variety of others. As memories became vivid young and old sang along or simply made reference to "the good old days."

Assemblywoman Gloria Young, the fair’s grand marshal, mingled in the crowd on the opening day as some of the stars prepared for their presentation. The Graduates Steel Band from Trinidad, Grupo Amistad (with Leslie George), the Congos de Curundu and Portobelo, the Grupo Juvenil de SAMAAP and Lord Panama were among the performers on both days. The next day brought out the best in a folklore group from Darien, for which the stage had to be wet to cool the hot wooden planks as the performers did their thing barefoot.

Also on the second day Episcopal Bishop Julio Murray blessed the activity and read from the writings of Primate Bishop Desmond Tutu, asking for continuous guidance towards the unity of all ethnic groups.

The stars of the previous day again highlighted this second day but the events climaxed with the crowning of Narcisa I, SAMAAP’s first queen, with words from the president Dr. Carlos Smith bestowing recognition on all contributors, especially Ethelbert Mapp, the fair’s coordinator.

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©2001 The Panama News