President of the Hispanic-Haitian Friendship Cultural Circle
Haitian Konpa celebrates seven decades of history as a symbol of cultural resistance and a bridge between Haiti and Spain, in the midst of its UNESCO candidacy for Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Birth of Konpa
This month marks an extraordinary milestone for Caribbean music: Haitian Konpa celebrates 70 years of uninterrupted rhythm. Seven decades of a sound that has moved generations, transcending borders and cultures. It was initiated by music director Nemours Jean-Baptiste, and his vision was to create a new sound while always maintaining the fundamental harmonic 1-2 tempo as its central core, which defines its specificity and makes it unmistakable.
The “konpa dirèk” genre created by Nemours is surprisingly diverse. It has successfully exploited touches of a wide variety of other rhythms and influences, such as Haitian folklore, merengue, salsa, bossa nova, jazz, big band, bolero, hip hop, disco, rap, raboday, and troubadour—a grand fusion of Caribbean music, jazz, and Haitian folk rhythms, resulting in a seductive, danceable style that quickly gained widespread popularity. Before the arrival of konpa, Haitian music and dance were rich and varied, encompassing traditions such as folklore, merengue, rara, troubadour, and African rhythms. According to dancers Clifford and Gaelle Jasmin, “Konpa functions as a rhythmic march, based on the principle of alternating footsteps. In the case of konpa, the basic rhythm is binary (1-2, 1-2), like a military march, pressing all the beats of the measure. It is recommended that dancers in training begin by properly mastering rhythmic marching in all directions, shifting their body weight with ease and confidence, to the rhythm of different styles of konpa music, as well as at different tempos, from slow to fast.”
With catchy melodies and often romantic or socially conscious lyrics, this pillar of Haitian cultural identity is an influential genre throughout the Caribbean and beyond. Iconic groups and artists have carried the konpa flag on international stages—in the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, and North America—solidifying its place in musical history. It is more than a musical genre; it is a symbol of identity, resilience, and joy.
This ability to absorb and fuse different styles is what has allowed konpa to constantly evolve and remain vibrant throughout its 70-year history. It is this unique blend of tradition and adaptation that makes it a fundamental pillar of Haitian musical culture and a genre appreciated around the world.
Konpa in Spain
At the end of the 2010s, in several conversations with maestro Eliades Ochoa of Buena Vista Social Club, he often asked me about konpa. He confessed how he heard the music of my country from Cuba.
The phrase “kite konpa a mache”—”let the konpa move”—commonly used to bring the audience to ecstasy at konpa concerts—could also be applied to the impressive penetration of this Caribbean rhythm into the European continent.
In the mid-2010s, konpa and zouk had their place at kizomba parties and social events in Madrid and throughout Spain. Those moments were magical, weren’t they? The “moments douceurs” at theme parties and dance festivals in Paris and France, with such a carefully curated selection of konpa music, remain the perfect finishing touch, the icing on the cake to prolong the magic of the dance, creating a much more intimate and warm atmosphere. Those moments are undoubtedly unforgettable memories for those of us who enjoy these scenes.
A Spanish citizen interpreted the way konpa is danced or the closeness of Haitian dance as something related to “orgies.” It’s important to clarify that konpa dance (and many Caribbean and African dances in general) is characterized by closeness and physical contact between partners. However, you can dance farther apart, performing other types of movements.
This form of dance, sometimes known as “gouyad” (slow, gentle hip movements, often performed in close contact with a partner), is part of the cultural expression and connection in dance; it has no orgy connotations.
Since the beginning of relations between Haiti and Spain, in 1952, Haitian students, professionals, and diplomats began arriving in Spain. Since then, konpa has been danced in Haitian homes, at private parties or institutional parties at the Haitian Embassy, at parties organized by the Cultural Circle of Hispanic-Haitian Friendship (since 1998), and at parties and social events organized by Kizomba event organizers.
In countries such as France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, the United Kingdom, and Portugal, konpa has established an active and growing presence, consolidating its position as an essential rhythm at Kizomba nights and other specific events dedicated to African and Caribbean dances. France is the country where konpa is danced the most in Europe.
A New Home in Spain
The passion for konpa has a new home in Spain! Enthusiastically founded in 2023, the Zaragoza-based Konpa Spain Cultural Association has begun to write its own history, bringing the vibrant music and contagious Haitian konpa dance to the Spanish cultural scene.
July 26, 1955, marked a milestone in the history of Haitian music. This day, at Place Sainte-Anne in Port-au-Prince, Nemours Jean Baptiste began his konpa adventure with musicians Julien Paul, Weber Sicot, Monfort Jean-Baptiste, Kreutzer, Mozart Duroseau and Anilus Cadet.
On June 20, 2024, as part of the Fête de la Musique (Music Festival), Haitian konpa resonated for the first time in the prestigious event hall of the Real Sociedad Económica Matritense of Madrid thanks to a joint initiative of the Embassy of Haiti and the Academy of Diplomacy. This unprecedented evening was highlighted by a performance by the musical group Eritaj, directed by Lentz Louis.
Konpa: Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
In March 2024, Haiti’s Permanent Delegation to UNESCO submitted the nomination of konpa, according to a press release. The goal is for konpa music and dance to be recognized as part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity, in accordance with the 2003 UNESCO Convention. Referenced as 2273, Haiti’s dossier will be examined by UNESCO at its twentieth session in December 2025.
The Hispanic-Haitian Friendship Cultural Circle will celebrate its annual Christmas gala on December 13, 2025, with the theme “In Madrid We Dance Konpa,” on the same day as the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO, which will be held in New Delhi.
The Spanish-Haitian Friendship Cultural Circle is an initiative with more than 25 years of history that builds bridges between Spain and Haiti through culture. With its programming—ranging from music, dance, and gastronomy festivals to academic exchanges and reflection sessions—this association positions itself as a benchmark for intercultural dialogue. Its activities, which combine collective memory with innovative proposals, have consolidated a vibrant and welcoming community in Madrid, reflected in testimonies of gratitude and active participation.