Ocu district is located in the heart of Herrera Province, in the central region of the Azuero Peninsula, its friendly and hardworking people are characterized by being very hospitable. Despite being a small town, they have been able to keep the traditions and customs inherited from their ancestors from generation to generation, becoming a guardian of Panamanian Culture.
According to historical facts, the meaning of these three letters Ocu in the Kuna Caribbean language is “Corn Beard or Corn Abundance”. Although it has not been possible to determine exactly the date of its foundation, it is believed that it could be founded on January 20, 1775 when the Bishop of Panama, Fray Francisco de los Rios and Armengol, visited that town where he assigned the people in charge of the new vice-parish of San Sebastian de Ocu.
People Who Live from Their Traditions
Unlike other regions of the country, its inhabitants have not allowed the modern and contemporary world to transform the authenticity and purity of its folklore. It is for this reason that a group of teachers concerned with the conservation, teaching and dissemination of their folklore, have celebrated since 1967 the very recognized “Manito Ocueño” Festival.
This word “Manito”, was born as a result of the sincere and affectionate greeting of the peasants from the region who, when meeting his countrymen, used the phrase “Tala Mano” or “Talas Manitos”, shaking hands as a sign: How are you brother?
Cultural expressions range from the peasant marriage, the traditional duel of the tamarind tree (death fights from long ago defending the honor), the ranch load (peasants helping a family build their humble ranch), the board of embarras (peasants come together to build a traditional house using a special mud and straw), dead in talanquera (traditional way in which poor people transported their deceased) the sick in hammocks (old way of carrying an ill person) and others.
More Cultural Expressions
Other cultural expressions from the region that stand out are: Carnivals, the only town with three streets: up, down and center an original expression of the most popular festival in the country. And the San Sebastian fair, the event that enhances the effort of the country man in the agricultural sector, and its economic potential, accompanied by cultural and folkloric expressions of the region.
In all these festivities, the farmer from Ocu demonstrates with a lot of love and affection his and her hospitality, its deep-rooted Indo-Hispanic customs, the deep regional and national pride.
Those who have the privilege of having shared time with the people from Ocu, have felt that feeling that expresses the man that works in agricultural fields through his shouts, salomas (unique regional shouting), folk dances and traditional customs, the love for their beloved Ocu surpasses everything.
