AddRan Dean Sonja Watson Explores Panama’s Musical Legacy in New Book
After more than two decades studying Panamanian literature and culture, Sonja Stephenson Watson, dean of TCU’s AddRan College of Liberal Arts and professor of Spanish, is bringing a lesser-known chapter of music history to the forefront with her new book, Reggae en Español: Diasporic Cultural Production in Panama.
Published by the University Press of Florida, the book traces the origins and cultural influence of reggae en español, a musical genre that emerged in Panama during the late 1970s and helped lay the foundation for modern reggaeton.
For Watson, the project represents the culmination of a research interest that began nearly 25 years ago.
“My first trip to Panama occurred in 2002 when I was a doctoral student searching for a research project,” Watson said. “During that summer, I fell in love with Panama — its history, culture, people and most importantly, its vast literary repertoire.”
That experience shaped her academic career, leading to her first book, The Politics of Race in Panama: Afro-Hispanic and West Indian Literary Discourses of Contention, published in 2014. While conducting research for that project, Watson encountered the history of reggae en español and knew it was a story she eventually wanted to tell.
“During the early stages of my career, I dedicated my teaching and research primarily to literature,” she said. “However, it was always my hope that I would someday return to reggae en español and tell the origin story of this rich musical genre.”
Uncovering a Musical History
Watson's new book examines how migration, cultural exchange and Panamanian history shaped the development of reggae en español. Drawing connections between Africa, the Caribbean, Central America and the United States, her research explores how artists blended musical traditions to create a genre that became an important expression of Afro-Panamanian identity.
One of the most significant challenges was understanding the complex history behind the music.
“Panama has a rich, complex history informed by multiple migrations, especially as a result of the Panama Canal, which was built from 1904-1914,” Watson said. “Panamanian reggae is a product and result of these multiple migrations which led to its fruition in the late 1970s.”
The book also highlights pioneering artists, including Leonardo Renato Aulder, widely known as Renato, whose contributions helped establish and popularize the genre.
Through her research, Watson hopes readers recognize that music is more than entertainment. It is a reflection of cultural identity, history and the connections that transcend national borders.
Balancing Scholarship and Leadership
Completing the book was no small undertaking. Watson continued researching and writing while serving as dean of AddRan, a role she assumed in 2020.
She acknowledges that balancing academic scholarship with the demands of college leadership was challenging, often requiring her to dedicate holidays to research and writing. Although much of the initial research was completed before she became dean, the COVID-19 pandemic further complicated the process.
Her advice to students and faculty navigating competing responsibilities is simple.
“If you want to achieve a goal, you must prioritize and make time for it,” Watson said. “Otherwise, it won’t happen.”