Kompa

Kompa, also spelled "compas", is the national music of Haiti, created in the early 1950s by guitarist and composer Nemours Jean-Baptiste. The fruit of a bold synthesis between Haitian merengue, Cuban jazz and African rhythms, kompa quickly became the musical heartbeat of Haitians on the island and in the diaspora. Its characteristic 4/4 rhythm, slow and sensual, is designed for couple dancing and embodies a resilient joie de vivre in the face of Haiti's historical hardships.

Kompa is immediately recognisable by its hypnotic rhythmic bass guitar, generous brass sections, synthetic keyboards and crooner-style vocals steeped in romanticism. The dance that accompanies kompa, where couples move closely entwined in a swaying motion, is as codified as the music itself. Lyrics in Haitian Creole or French celebrate love, celebration and Haitian identity with undisguised pride.

NESLY, a Franco-Haitian star with millions of streams, has helped popularise kompa among European French-speaking audiences with modern productions that respect the essence of the genre. DJ KAWEST embodies the club and electronic dimension of contemporary kompa, bridging tradition and today's dancefloors, particularly within the Haitian community in France and Canada.

Kompa is omnipresent at carnivals and community celebrations of the Haitian diaspora in France, Quebec, the United States and the Caribbean. Festivals dedicated to world music and Caribbean music regularly welcome kompa artists. This genre is also a vector of cultural identity for millions of diaspora Haitians who maintain a living connection to their roots through it.