For many years, a group of British people has been hosting a spiritual music festival called 'Tribal Gathering.' These festivals are being held in a not-widely-known area in Panama called Playa Chiquita, says an article.

This year, the EDM-loving group is left hanging due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the intense measures that the nation's government is implementing to prevent the further spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.


The Festival

The festival is celebrated for 16 days. It invites indigenous musicians, spiritual leaders, creatives from different parts of the world. The event is being called 'cultural exchange.' The majority of the attendees of the festival include white Europeans. Additionally, workshop leaders and musicians from different parts of Asia and Latin America are participating in the event.


Current Panama 

Currently, Panama is one of the most COVID-19-affected nations in Central America. It reported more than 6,021 COVID-19 cases.

More or less 13 percent of the population of Panama is indigenous. It is a less-explored treasured area where a cost-effective festival dream is being visited by many. Are the communities getting benefits from the festivals?


Getting Locked-In

One of the attendees of the event was interviewed and revealed that in the beginning, it was paradise, but when they got locked in, everything changed.

One publication even called the event as the last festival celebrated on Earth.


Leaving the Area

It had been customary for a majority of the indigenous people in the area to leave for 12 days as the festival is being celebrated with various programs involving music and parties.

On February 29, hundreds of people flocked the area and stayed there since. Tensions had arisen among the visitors and those who are now responsible for them.


Not Allowed to Leave

While some were grabbing the opportunity to stay longer in the area as a way to improve their spiritual selves, others were outraged to find out from the National Police that they were not allowed to leave. Some of the festival-goers stayed on the beach while others traveled to stay in Panama City and wait for the announcement that they will be allowed to leave.

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Finishing the Festival

At the beginning of the festival, the police were tried to cancel the event. However, the organizers were able to convince them to allow the festival until the last day. At the end of the festival, on March 15, the risks were already high.

One of the attendees of the festival who was able to leave regretted doing so. The attendee was able to sneak past armed guards and was able to return home. The attended revealed that she does not have excess funds. Also, she told us that she does not want to be treated like a charity case.

It will take weeks before anyone can be allowed to leave and enter Panama. For U.S. citizens who are in Panama, they can find more information at the U.S. Embassy in Panama's website.