Kompa Music the Lifeblood of Haiti's People

Updated December 27, 2012 11:16 AM

Kompa music to Haitians is like rock music to Americans. Inherent to the culture, a reflection of its spirit, and an embedded part of everyday life, heard everywhere. The Kompa genré began around 60 years ago in Haiti, its slow-paced meringue rhythms distinct from the Dominican Republic's faster-paced merengue. Played mainly in a minor key, Kompa lovers define it as jazz-influenced, pulsating, serpentine, and Créole-flavored.

Nemours Jean-Baptiste , a Haitian sax player, created Kompa, a blend of calypso and meringue influences, and an off-shoot of the Dominican Republic's merengue. Key to understanding Kompa is an awareness of the Haitian people's history of suffering. Haiti has endured 32 coup d'etats, devastating poverty, and frequent natural disasters, 2010's earthquake the most recent national crisis. Music writer, Vanessa Francklin, sums up the character of Kompa, saying, "this is the music of a people that has long suffered and still suffers."

Haitians regard Kompa as a healing force, a music that quells anxiety and soothes pain. Like the American song classic "Smile", Haitians smile and laugh through their tears, with an invincible will to prevail over the insurmountable odds set against them.

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