A mix of New York City-based eye-popping tales, titillating tidbits and pivotal points make up the lore — and lure — of Konpa as it became entrenched in the Big Apple along with the Haitian community. The post Musicians and cultural ambassadors mark first ‘Haitian Konpa Day’ in New York appe
BROOKLYN, NY — Lakòl made a huge splash when its “Ole, Ole” Konpa music video appeared on MTV, sandwiched between Michael Jackson and Madonna hits. Thanks to the daring of a Haitian music marketer who happened to work at the TV station at the time.
A future Phantoms frontman, when he was a teen playing music at church, had to sneak out of his family’s fire escape to go play secretly with a djaz, Konpa band, in nightclubs.
Tabou Combo, whose formation predates the genre itself, was once received by European royalty during a 1970s world tour that sold out top venues — after years of playing in the city’s basements and clubs to only a handful of people.
One composer’s car was stolen outside one nightclub. Another classically trained musician was leaving a different venue one night when he was shot dead.
So went the mix of New York City-based eye-popping tales, titillating tidbits and pivotal points that make up the lore — and lure — of Konpa, as recounted during the inaugural gathering to mark Haitian Konpa Day, July 26, in the Big Apple. Over nearly four hours at BRIC Arts | Media House also livestreamed on Chokarella, a group of 10 musicians, media personalities and cultural advocates relayed these stories to mark the genre’s evolution and impact over seven decades.
Among those featured on the two panels of the evening explored the history and impact of Haiti’s most recognizable musical export on the city and vice versa were legendary performers Tabou Combo Yvon “Kapi” Andre and Phantoms frontman Pierre Raymond “King Kino” Divers; industry veterans such as music marketer Cynthia Kahara, whose boldness landed Lakòl on MTV, and composer Fabrice Rouzier, who recently successfully sued Jwé Dwèt Filé for copyright infringement; and cultural ambassador Dominique Dupuy, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Religions and Haitians Living Abroad who led the charge to have UNESCO recognize Konpa as an intangible cultural asset in 2025.
“New York teaches us an important lesson,” Dupuy said, citing the stories of adversity, grit and growth in Konpa’s evolution that took place around New York. “It teaches us the most beautiful parts that represent us can happen even when we’re forced to leave our home.
“Even when they are persecuting us,” Dupuy continued, “When they are keeping us from living at home and they are chasing us wherever we go seeking asylum, we have a right to seek joy, to celebrate who we are. That’s Konpa.”
New York City officially designated July 26 as Haitian Konpa Day when it adopted Resolution 0987, introduced by Council Member Rita C. Joseph, to honor the genre’s cultural significance while supporting its continued growth. Organizers of ‘Konpa Se Nou’ said the initiative aims to elevate Haitian culture, strengthen community pride and preserve Konpa for future generations.
Throughout the evening, speakers highlighted the contributions of behind-the-scenes figures who helped carry Konpa beyond Haiti’s borders and into the global diaspora. They also reflected on how the genre has evolved musically — every 10 years, according to Rouzier — and citing numerous artists and bands spanning multiple generations, the relationship between Konpa and Haiti’s political history during the Duvalier era and even which city is the capital of Konpa.
Among the evening’s liveliest exchanges was a friendly debate between Rouzier and Philippe “Pipo” Saint Louis, a musician, photographer and entrepreneur, over which era represented Konpa’s golden age. As the conversation moved from the genre’s early influences to its commercial peak in the 1980s and the mini djaz era, Divers also regaled the audience with tales of his exploits in forming the band, such as sneaking out of his home and making up polemics in cahoots with Zin to draw out crowds.
The event echoed themes explored in last year’s 70th anniversary retrospective on Konpa by The Haitian Times that underscored the genre’s enduring influence and the ongoing effort to preserve its legacy. A Spotify playlist of Konpa through the years follows.
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