Haitian compas music added to UNESCO cultural heritage list

Compas, the beloved Haitian music and dance genre that has long soundtracked daily life and celebration across the country, has been added to UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage, the organization announced.

- Advertisement -

Created in the 1950s, the syncopated rhythm — inspired by merengue and infused with percussion — echoes from bars, homes and businesses throughout Haiti, offering moments of joy and release amid grinding poverty and escalating gang violence.

The music’s emotional pull was on full display last year, when Haiti qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1974. Compas blared through Port-au-Prince as cheering crowds jogged through the streets and families danced in their homes.

Former Haitian foreign affairs minister Dominique Dupuy described UNESCO’s recognition as “an ode to joy.”

“In these dark times our country is experiencing, we continue to usher in this new year, already lost for our youth, with a glimmer of hope,” Dupuy wrote on social platform X.

In its citation, UNESCO said compas “brings together people of all ages, genders and backgrounds” and “holds deep cultural significance” for the communities that practice it. The music often explores themes of love, freedom, peace and resistance.

Also known as konpa or kompa in Haitian Creole, compas blends African, European and Indigenous influences. It incorporates traditional instruments such as the tanbou (Haitian drum), along with congas, electric guitars, keyboards and trumpets.

UNESCO highlighted not only the music but the dance that accompanies it, describing compas as “a rhythmic walk, marked by pelvic movements, alternating steps and a physical connection between the dancers.” The organization noted that the dance is sometimes used in couples therapy and is commonly shared among family members and friends.

“Deeply rooted in the identity of its bearers, Compas is an important part of festive and ritual events and a key element of celebrations and personal milestones for individuals, families and communities,” UNESCO said in its official description.

- Advertisement -

The organization added that knowledge and skills associated with compas are passed down through generations, often informally through families, communities, schools, workshops and festivals. Musicians, dancers, choreographers, orchestras and producers all play key roles in keeping the tradition alive.

Dupuy also pointed out that UNESCO has previously recognized other elements of Haitian culture, including joumou — the traditional pumpkin soup tied to Haiti’s independence — and cassava.

She said the addition of compas to the heritage list “reaffirms our unwavering commitment to love, the joy of living and freedom of expression: this rhythm that brings the dawn with gusto, against all odds.”