{"id":2191959,"date":"2025-12-09T04:05:24","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T04:05:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2191959"},"modified":"2025-12-09T04:05:24","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T04:05:24","slug":"nyc-resolution-names-july-26-haitian-konpa-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/nyc-resolution-names-july-26-haitian-konpa-day\/","title":{"rendered":"NYC resolution names July 26 Haitian Konpa Day"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-summary\">\n<h2 class=\"article-summary-title\">Overview:<\/h2>\n<p>The New York City Council approved a resolution establishing July 26 as Haitian Konpa Day, recognizing the genre\u2019s deep cultural impact on Haitians worldwide and its role in the city\u2019s cultural life.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The New York City Council has approved a resolution establishing July 26 as Haitian Konpa Day, an annual celebration of Haiti\u2019s signature music and dance tradition and its influence across the city.<\/p>\n<p>On Dec. 4, the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Intergroup Relations, chaired by Council Member Erik Bottcher, advanced <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/legistar.council.nyc.gov\/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7480060&amp;GUID=62B13EB1-FC98-427A-993D-F55EC82988BE\">Resolution 987-2025<\/a>.\u00a0 Council Member Rita Joseph sponsored the measure, which recognizes the enduring role of <em>konpa<\/em> in Haitian culture and its prominence within New York\u2019s Haitian communities.<\/p>\n<aside>\n\t\t<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cHaitian culture has long been part of the rich and diverse fabric of our great city. Our food, dance, and music have helped make New York City what it is today,\u201d said Joseph.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHaitian contributions are everywhere, and I am delighted that we are formally recognizing and celebrating Haitian Konpa music today.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-style-border has-white-color has-primary-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-c8d925a215b1aaafc5415326b2ec0b6f\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles  wpnbha show-image image-alignright ts-4 is-3 is-landscape  has-text-color has-white-color\" style=\"\">\n<div data-posts=\"\" data-current-post-id=\"247541\">\n<article data-post-id=\"241899\" class=\"tag-conversation tag-latest-news category-arts-culture category-music-arts-culture category-new-york category-profiles type-post post-has-image\">\n<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/haitiantimes.com\/2025\/09\/08\/haitian-american-musician-yves-fanfan-joseph\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p><!-- .featured-image --><\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\tJean Yves \u201cFanfan\u201d Joseph, a founding member of the iconic Tabou Combo, offers a personal and insightful perspective on konpa \u2013 from its origins in Haiti to its global reach\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p><!-- .entry-wrapper --><br \/>\n\t<\/article>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Haitians around the world embrace <em>konpa<\/em>\u2014sometimes spelled compas, kompas or kompa\u2014as one of the country\u2019s most beloved and commercially successful genres. Created in 1955 by Nemours Jean-Baptiste, <em>konpa dir\u00e8k<\/em> blended slowed-down merengue, American big band influences and <em>rasin<\/em> rhythms. Jean-Baptiste\u2019s first <em>konpa<\/em> concert took place that July at Place Sainte-Anne in Port-au-Prince.<\/p>\n<p>Webert Sicot, an early collaborator of Jean-Baptiste, later developed \u201ccadence rampas,\u201d a faster style that sparked a friendly rivalry between the two musicians. As the genre grew, bands adapted large-orchestra formats to fit nightclub stages, helping <em>konpa<\/em> reach broader audiences.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think it\u2019s important to recognize <em>konpa<\/em> as its own genre of music. There are elements that make it distinct from other genres,\u201d said Tadia Toussaint, a recording artist and brand strategist for Afro Caribbean artists.<\/p>\n<p>Over the decades, <em>konpa<\/em> has expanded far beyond Haiti. Social media has amplified its reach, powering viral dances and performances by soloists, DJs and influencers. Groups such as Carimi, Krey\u00f2l La, Zenglen, Klass, Harmonik, Enposib and Zaf\u00e8m have built international followings. Solo artists such as Rutshelle Guillaume and Jo\u00e9 Dw\u00e8t Fil\u00e9 have drawn global attention, while DJs like Michael Brun and Tony Mix have blended <em>konpa<\/em> into innovative cross-genre mixes.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Konpa\u2019s global rise also aligns with a recent milestone: the genre received a favorable opinion from UNESCO\u2019s technical committee, placing it on track for inclusion on the organization\u2019s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-style-border has-white-color has-primary-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-561bd3e72c96e35c2b833f75803824b3\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles  wpnbha show-image image-alignright ts-4 is-3 is-landscape  has-text-color has-white-color\" style=\"\">\n<div data-posts=\"\" data-current-post-id=\"247541\">\n<article data-post-id=\"242665\" class=\"tag-latest-news tag-men-konpa category-arts-culture category-haitian-diapora type-post post-has-image\">\n<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/haitiantimes.com\/2025\/09\/28\/top-konpa-women-vocalists-legacy\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/haitiantimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-3.png?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"Women who took to the konpa stage and stole the show\u00a0\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/haitiantimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-3.png?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/haitiantimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-3.png?resize=800%2C600&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/haitiantimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-3.png?resize=600%2C450&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/haitiantimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-3.png?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/haitiantimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-3.png?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/haitiantimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-3.png?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 782px) 600px, (min-width: 600px) 42.5vw, 90vw\"\/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p><!-- .featured-image --><\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\tFrom Risk\u00e9 to Zin\u2019s Princesse Georgy to solo stars like Rutshelle, some women artists brought innovations that pushed the beloved genre onto new paths at pivotal moments\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p><!-- .entry-wrapper --><br \/>\n\t<\/article>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Advocates say the recognition would help preserve and promote the music and dance tradition worldwide, reinforcing its status as a core expression of Haitian identity and cultural pride. Supporters of the effort note that the designation would elevate konpa alongside other recognized Haitian cultural treasures, expanding visibility for artists, dancers and educators who have long worked to share the genre globally.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA lot of Francophone artists are making <em>konpa<\/em> and they have no ties to Haiti,\u201d Toussaint said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s important that the ownership and the affiliation to [Haiti] happens. The timing is right, being that our industry is continuing to expand and the quality and standard of music at <em>konpa <\/em>presenting events has elevated.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRecognizing the pioneers of it like Nemours Jean-Baptiste, and all of the people who have contributed to it, having that day really is going to create a space where folks can talk about it, share information about it and push the sonic internationally,\u201d Toussaint continued.<\/p>\n<p>With the new designation, New York City joins Haitians worldwide in honoring the genre each year on July 26. Supporters say the day will offer a moment for the Haitian diaspora to gather in celebration of the music that has shaped generations and remains central to Haiti\u2019s cultural identity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDespite the negative narratives that have come from the highest office in the land,\u201d Joseph said, \u201cwe will never forget our resilience and our strength to stand up for justice and our rights.\u201d<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-default\"\/>\n<p>Video: <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ich.unesco.org\/en\/video\/76354\">https:\/\/ich.unesco.org\/en\/video\/76354<\/a><br \/>Nomination: The Compas of Haiti (Haiti)<\/p>\n<aside>\n\t\t<\/aside>\n<p>\t\t\t<span id=\"wordads-inline-marker\" style=\"display: none;\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"sharedaddy sd-block sd-like jetpack-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded\" id=\"like-post-wrapper-76793838-247541-69373af7a2eb3\" data-src=\"https:\/\/widgets.wp.com\/likes\/?ver=15.4-a.1#blog_id=76793838&amp;post_id=247541&amp;origin=haitiantimes.com&amp;obj_id=76793838-247541-69373af7a2eb3\" data-name=\"like-post-frame-76793838-247541-69373af7a2eb3\" data-title=\"Like or Reblog\">\n<h3 class=\"sd-title\">Like this:<\/h3>\n<p><span class=\"button\"><span>Like<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"loading\">Loading&#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"sd-text-color\"\/><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"sd-link-color\"\/><\/div>\n<p><h3 class=\"jp-relatedposts-headline\"><em>Related<\/em><\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source haitiantimes.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Overview: The New York City Council approved a resolution establishing July 26 as Haitian Konpa Day, recognizing the genre\u2019s deep cultural impact on Haitians worldwide and its role in the city\u2019s cultural life. The New York City Council has approved a resolution establishing July 26 as Haitian Konpa Day, an annual celebration of Haiti\u2019s signature [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2191960,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25179],"tags":[423123,22672,393559],"class_list":["post-2191959","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-music","tag-haiti-news","tag-latest-news","tag-men-konpa"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NYC-resolution-names-July-26-Haitian-Konpa-Day.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2191959","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2191959"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2191959\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2191961,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2191959\/revisions\/2191961"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2191960"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2191959"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2191959"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2191959"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}