compas
what it is
Compas, also known as Compas direct in French, or konpa dirèk in Creole or simply konpa is a modern méringue, the national music genre of Haiti that people have been dancing and singing since the 1800s. Popularized by Haitian sax and guitar player Nemours Jean-Baptiste in 1955, compas is the main music of many countries such as Dominica and the French Antilles, etc. Whether it is incorrectly 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 very influential in the Caribbean, Africa, Cape Verde, Portugal, France, part of Canada, South and North America.
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questions
What is compas?
Compas, also known as Compas direct in French, or konpa dirèk in Creole or simply konpa is a modern méringue, the national music genre of Haiti that people have been dancing and singing since the 1800s. Popularized by Haitian sax and guitar player Nemours Jean-Baptiste in 1955, compas is the main music of many countries such as Dominica and the French Antilles, etc. Whether it is incorrectly 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 very influential in the Caribbean, Africa, Cape Verde, Portugal, France, part of Canada, South and North America.
What are good compas albums to start with?
Try Konpa Lakay by Boulpik, Respect by Tabou Combo De Pétion-Ville, Disques Debs International Vol. 2 by Various Artists, and Goop by Splendid Noises.
Who are some women making compas?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/compas/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making compas, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-20