New York, NY – New York City has formally etched Haitian cultural history into its official calendar. In a landmark decision, the New York City Council has approved a resolution designating July 26 as Haitian Konpa Day, an annual celebration honoring Konpa, Haiti’s national dance music and one of the most influential Caribbean musical genres of the modern era.
The resolution recognizes not only the artistic brilliance of Konpa but also its enduring cultural, social, and economic impact on Haitians around the world, and notably within New York City, home to one of the largest Haitian diasporas in the United States.
A Historic Vote at City Hall
On December 4, the City Council Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Intergroup Relations, chaired by Council Member Erik Bottcher, advanced Resolution 987-2025, paving the way for its unanimous adoption by the full Council. The measure was introduced and sponsored by Council Member Rita Joseph, who represents Brooklyn’s 40th District and has been a leading advocate for Haitian cultural recognition.
“Haitian culture has long been part of the rich and diverse fabric of our great city,” Joseph said. “Our food, dance, and music have helped make New York City what it is today. Haitian contributions are everywhere, and I am delighted that we are formally recognizing and celebrating Haitian Konpa music.”
With this vote, Konpa officially joins New York City’s cultural landscape, not as a niche genre, but as a defining artistic tradition worthy of citywide recognition across all five boroughs.
Why July 26 Matters
The choice of July 26 carries deep historical significance. It commemorates the founding date of Tabou Combo, one of Haiti’s most iconic and internationally influential bands, whose early performances helped shape and modernize Konpa for global audiences. The date also echoes the genre’s origins in the summer of 1955, when Konpa first emerged as a revolutionary sound in Port-au-Prince.
By selecting this date, the Council acknowledged both Konpa’s roots and its evolution, from neighborhood dance halls in Haiti to primary stages, festivals, and clubs across New York City and beyond.
The Birth of a National Sound
Konpa—also spelled compas, kompas, or kompa, was created in 1955 by Nemours Jean-Baptiste, a visionary bandleader who blended slowed-down merengue, American big band influences, jazz harmonies, and traditional Haitian rhythms into a new, polished dance music. His first Konpa concert took place at Place Sainte-Anne in Port-au-Prince, marking the birth of a genre that would redefine Haitian music.
Soon after, Webert Sicot, an early collaborator, developed cadence rampas, a faster and more driving style that sparked a friendly rivalry between the two pioneers. This creative tension fueled innovation and helped Konpa evolve rapidly, adapting large orchestral formats into sleek ensembles suitable for nightclubs, ballrooms, and touring stages.
“I think it’s important to recognize Konpa as its own genre of music,” said Tadia Toussaint, recording artist and brand strategist for Afro-Caribbean artists. “There are elements that make it distinct from other genres.”
From Haiti to the World
Over the decades, Konpa has traveled far beyond Haiti’s borders. New York City became one of its most important international hubs, with Haitian communities nurturing the music in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. As migration expanded, so did Konpa’s reach, across the Caribbean, North America, Europe, and Africa.
In recent years, social media and digital platforms have propelled Konpa into a new era. Viral dance trends, live-streamed performances, and cross-genre collaborations have introduced the music to younger, global audiences. Groups such as Carimi, Magnum Band, Kreyòl La, Zenglen, Klass, Harmonik, Enposib, Kreyol Alternative, and Zafèm have built massive international followings. At the same time, solo artists like Joé Dwèt Filé and Phylissia Ross continue to draw worldwide attention.
DJs and producers, including Michael Brun and Tony Mix, have further expanded Konpa’s sonic footprint, blending it with electronic, Afrobeat, hip-hop, and house influences, without losing its rhythmic soul.
Global Recognition on the Horizon
Konpa’s growing international stature aligns with another major milestone: the genre has received a favorable opinion from UNESCO’s technical committee, placing it on track for possible inclusion on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.
Supporters say such recognition would help preserve Konpa’s legacy, protect its Haitian origins, and elevate the work of artists, dancers, educators, and cultural ambassadors who have carried the genre forward for generations.
“A lot of Francophone artists are making Konpa, and they have no ties to Haiti,” Toussaint noted. “It’s important that the ownership and the affiliation with Haiti happen. The timing is right, as our industry continues to expand and the standard of Konpa events has elevated.”
Recognizing the pioneers, starting with Nemours Jean-Baptiste and all who followed, creates space for education, preservation, and global dialogue around the music.
A Day of Pride, Resilience, and Celebration
With the establishment of Haitian Konpa Day, New York City sends a powerful message: Haitian music belongs not only in homes, clubs, and community venues, but in the city’s official cultural narrative.
For Haitian New Yorkers, the designation is both affirmation and vindication.
“Despite the negative narratives that have come from the highest office in the land,” Council Member Joseph said, “we will never forget our resilience and our strength to stand up for justice and our rights.”
Each year on July 26, Haitians and friends of Haiti will now have a formal moment to gather, dance, reflect, and celebrate the music that has shaped generations, music that continues to tell Haiti’s story through rhythm, movement, and joy.
Konpa has its day. And New York City is dancing with it.
