Compas

Common card · No. 363387

Compas (French pronunciation: [kɔ̃pa]; Haitian Creole: konpa dirèk; French: compas direct), also known as konpa or kompa, is a modern méringue dance music genre of Haiti. The genre was created by Nemours Jean-Baptiste following the creation of Ensemble Aux Callebasses in 1955, which became Ensemble Nemours Jean-Baptiste in 1957. The frequent tours of the many Haitian bands have cemented the style in all the Caribbean. Therefore, compas is the main music of several countries such as Dominica and the French Antilles. Whether it is called zouk, where French Antilles artists of Martinique and Guadeloupe have taken it, or compas in places where Haitian artists have toured, this méringue style is influential in part of the Caribbean, Portugal, Cape Verde, France, part of Canada, and South and North America. Nemours Jean-Baptiste (1918–1985) was an important figure in the creation and popularization of konpa dirèk. Born in Port-au-Prince, Jean-Baptiste grew up in a musically inclined family, and...

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