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Is it Kompa, Konpa or Compa? The Music Style of Haiti

Updated December 31, 2012 3:18 PM
Kompa which is also sometimes called konpa or compa is a musical genre from Haiti. It is also a dance form which involves mostly medium to fast-tempo beats created from synthesizers. The French meaning of kompa is complex. However many of us would not find it as complex as it is has explained. Kompa is an ever-changing style that originated from European ballroom dancing however a touch of Haiti's bourgeois culture may also be felt when you listen to it carefully. Initially, Haitian music consists of one or the other western dance form. Menwat (the early variation of the minuet) is one among them that still exist. Kompa has not been much dissimilar to the tradition. It has developed taking influence from multiple genres including salsa, soc, calypso many other similar.

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Swinging is also one of a characteristic of kompa. In 1915, the American military occupants of Haiti brought this style of to their performances. The style was appreciated at many places and later it also influenced Haitian musician who integrated it with kompa. Kompa direct is a style that came in its existence in mid 1950.
Coronto international was a group, very famous in 1950; the group invented the Kompa direct and soon become a rage in Antilles, especially in Martinique and Guadeloupe. Two major personalities from this group who made it possible to make it a huge success throughout the Antilles were Webert Sicot and Nemours Jean Baptiste who later evolved it with zouk. However, both have their own style and identity.

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