Dancers performing at the Konpa Danse Challenge. Photo: Facebook page/ Konpa Danse Challenge
The Ministry of Culture and Communication (MCC) today honors the memory of Nemours Jean-Baptiste, Haitian saxophonist and creator of Konpa Dirèk, on the occasion of National Konpa Dirèk Day. Born in the 1950s, this musical genre emerged thanks to the talent of Nemours Jean-Baptiste, lastingly influencing the music scene and dance floors in Haiti.
The ministry emphasizes that Konpa, which comes from ancestral and traditional Haitian rhythms mixed with Caribbean sounds, has been able to establish itself and evolve despite socio-political crises. It remains a central element of Haitian celebrations, anchored in the family, public and political life of the country.
Recognized as Haiti’s intangible cultural heritage since October 21, 2019, Konpa now aspires to international recognition. The Ministry of Culture and Communication, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship and various civil society actors, submitted a file to UNESCO for the inscription of Konpa on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
On this day dedicated to Konpa Dirèk, the MCC applauds all those who work to perpetuate and promote this musical heritage on the international scene. Under the leadership of Minister Augustin Antoine, the Ministry reaffirms the government’s commitment to protecting Haitian cultural values and ensuring their transmission, in accordance with the directives of Prime Minister Garry Conille.
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