Haiti Celebrates as Compas (Konpa) Is Poised for UNESCO Intangible Heritage Listing

From the lively bars of Port-au-Prince to Haiti's most remote villages and across its global diaspora, people move to the sensual pulse of compas — also spelled konpa or kompa in Creole. The genre, both a musical style and a dance tradition, is expected to be inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list on Wednesday, a recognition prompting celebration across the country.

"Today, compas is the main artistic (and) musical representation of Haiti abroad,"

said Frantz Duval, director of Ticket magazine and editor-in-chief of Le Nouvelliste.

This anticipated UNESCO designation is a boost to national pride at a time when Haiti faces entrenched poverty and instability driven by gang violence. It follows other uplifting news for Haitians — including the nation's recent qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — and offers a cultural story that contrasts with frequent coverage focused on politics and security.

A Resilient National Rhythm

Compas is known for blending percussion, guitars and keyboards with distinctly syncopated drumming that drives its rhythm. Often described as merengue-influenced, the genre invites movement: at nearly any hour in Haiti it can be heard in restaurants with dance floors, aboard buses, in public squares and on the radio.

"Compas resists crises because everyone listens to it and dances to it even during times of crisis. If we can't dance or organize shows in Port-au-Prince, we do it in the regions. Otherwise, we do it in Haitian communities abroad,"

Duval added.

Collective Memory and Social Life

Emmelie Prophete, Haiti's former culture minister who helped prepare the UNESCO nomination, called compas "the collective memory of the nation." The official nomination describes the music as "a defining creation of the Haitian people" that "transcends social classes" and plays a central role in festive, ritual and life-cycle events for individuals, families and communities.

On social platforms like TikTok, videos tagged with variants of #kompa attract hundreds of thousands of views and often feature couples dancing sensually to the rhythms — evidence of compas's continuing cultural reach among younger audiences and diaspora communities.

Origins and International Reach

The genre traces its origins to a July 1955 concert in Port-au-Prince led by saxophonist Nemours Jean-Baptiste. Compas draws on African and French heritage and absorbed influences from Cuban and Dominican music that reached Haiti over shortwave radio. Musician Yves Joseph, known as Fanfan Tibot, recalled that his band Tabou Combo helped carry compas beyond Haiti. Their 1975 track "New York City" found success across the Caribbean and in France, prompting bands to record in English and Spanish to broaden their audiences.

"This rhythm represents Haiti very well internationally, and I hope it will endure," Duval said, emphasizing the genre's role as a cultural ambassador for the nation.