The United Nations Subcommittee on Indigenous Cultures voted in a special emergency session yesterday to add the last 400 DJs in Nosara to the UN Watchlist of Endangered Native Populations, saying at a press conference that Nosara’s once-thriving DJ population “is under attack from all sides.”
The sale of Perozah in Garza – a hallowed venue for local DJs – was a devastating blow. But the loss of local venues is widespread – and growing fast. With over 80% of the men in Pelada now saying they prefer mens’ circles over bars – and the rest taking drawing classes at Campo – local nightspots are struggling, and can only afford Taku. Ecstatic dance numbers in Nosara are holding steady – but 36 ecstatic dances per week cannot support the creative evolution and tattoo requirements of 400 DJs. It surprises nobody that these artistic souls are slowly leaving Nosara – along with healers, shamans, and real estate agents.
“The numbers are falling fast,” confirmed Bjorn Thuquist, UN official and head of Indigenous Studies at the University of Stockholm. Citing the confirmed figure of 506 DJs from the recent Nosara census, he said, “We are receiving disturbing reports that the population has decreased by nearly 100 just in the last few months.”
Darker forces are clearly at play in this sudden decline. Nosara Lately broke the story last week that more than 40 local DJs have vanished without a trace inside Become Nosara over the last 10 months, sending chills through the tight-knit community.
“It coulda been me,” said local DJ legend Nosara D’ Noche quietly, speaking to us in between down-tempo evening sets at Ser. “Some chick from Tamarindo wanted me to go to an afterparty there one night, but I said no. That place is maldito, man. My abuelo, she gets visions, you know? right? and she told me Hector, listen to me, don’t ever go in there.”
Yesterday’s UN vote means that Nosara’s remaining 400 DJs may eventually receive UN Protected Status, as was granted last month to the Magical Nosara Fam, Guanacaste’s largest indigenous group. Local observers we ran into at Howlers last night were drawing direct lines between the UN and the Hidden Forces that Control Nosara.
“Everybody thinks the Johnsons run this town,” said Kenny McTavish, sour old surfer guy and first person to arrive in Guiones. “But you know what? Lately, it’s all Casa Vitality. Look at that new Gondola plan. 200 million from the UN to connect the Beautiful Nosara Fam together. Brilliant. But where did they put all the mid-stations, huh? Olo Alaia. Howlers. Chivos. This shit has UN funding written all over it. You just watch. Jaclyn and the Quebradas better get day jobs ‘cuz all those bars are going turntable and smoke machine and sushi and twenty-dollar cover. Fucking hippies and DJs. I remember how this place used to be. It‘s ruined. Used to take four days to get from Garza to the Guilded Iguana. There was a rock in the middle of the road.”
Thunquist brushed off Kenny’s unhinged speculation and tried to put a positive spin on the situation before hanging up, pointing out that the new Garza Conference Center has booked legendary local DJ Hawke for a full year of ABBA–themed evening events. “If you’re a young DJ,” said Thunquist, “It’s things like that that keep the dream alive.”
Thunquist – a longtime ABBA fan himself – went on to praise Hawke’s bold, fearless return to his Nordic roots, saying that imagining what Hawke would do with ‘Dancing Queen’ under Garza’s legendary full moon gave him goosebumps. But then, Thunquist suddenly grew quiet, before uttering the truth about Hawke’s fellow DJs that everyone – even Hawke himself – must surely know, deep down inside:
“ ABBA cannot save them all.”
