SKETCHES OF SPANISH-COLONIAL LIFE IN PANAMA: 1672-1821

By Lady Mallet

A window into the past that springs to life on every page. This book offers: A unique glimpse into colonial domestic life: Through a painstaking, immersive reconstruction, we witness the daily rhythms of a Panamanian criollo household: children's games at dawn, formal table protocols, the careful organization of living spaces, and the religious rituals that punctuated each day. A nuanced portrayal of slavery: Far from reducing enslaved people to stereotypes, this narrative gives them distinct identities, passions, and inner conflicts. You'll meet clever and generous individuals, pranksters and the wise--each character's humanity shining through despite the harshness of the system, offering a rich, anthropological perspective. The role of women and child care: The heart of the home beats in the hands of its female caregivers. Their postpartum practices and child-rearing rituals are described almost as sacred rites, underscoring how maternal knowledge served as the true engine of cultural transmission and silent power. Afro-Panamanian dance and oral tradition: The Tamborito, the Cumbia, and the Punto come alive as living ethnographic records: the steps, the music, the exchanges of coins, the exclamations ("¡Opa!", "¡Ipa!"), and the ritualistic theatricality that preserves African memory in the New World. Superstition and death: Two worldviews converge in the mourning of an infant and an elder caregiver: the Catholic vision of an innocent soul ascending to heaven versus the African-descended belief in a spirit that might return to haunt the living. Nocturnal prayers, fear of the dark, and whispered incantations weave a fascinating tapestry of religious syncretism. The symbolism of order and hierarchy: Every labeled jar, every formal greeting, and every assigned task reflects an obsession with order by a colonial elite that saw ceremony as the embodiment of civilization. A tribute to the rigor and sophistication of a time when everything--and everyone--had their proper place.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0F5NTMRJG
• ISBN13: 9798280481244
• Release Date: April 2025
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 102 Pages
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.3" x 5.0"