On a small island resigns a country called Haiti (Ayiti), next to the Dominican Republic. In this country, Konpa (Kompa) is a style of music made for dancing for its citizens. Konpa (Kompa) is also the national music of Haiti, though it does not have a long history compared to other European musical genres. In the Caribbean country of Haiti, Konpa (Kompa) can be used to see the many influences that have taken place in the colonization of Haiti, from its Spanish influences all the way to its European influences. Konpa (Kompa) is an aspect of Haitian society that is used for enjoying a party or celebration, however, Konpa (Kompa) is not only limited to these social activities. Konpa (Kompa) can be played and enjoyed in the everyday form of entertainment from relaxing with friends, cooking, …show more content…
cleaning and because you simply wish to enjoy a good song. “The word Konpa is a derivative of the Spanish word “Compas” meaning rhythm or tone” (Vital).
Haitian Konpa (Kompa) can be considered a homonym as many say Kompa, stressing the Kom like cam from a camera, however, this is wrong in Haitian Creole (Kreyol) the though a certain letter maybe there it sounds like another. The Kon-part is supposed to sound like the com-part of comb and the pa-part sounds like the ba-part of bad. Though Konpa (Kompa) is the name commonly heard in the present day, another name commonly forgotten is “Konpa dirèk, which is translated to compas direct in French” (Haitianmusic.net). Dirèk is translated as direct, however, it refers to the lack of a third cord in the music. This word, “Konpa dirèk,” is not as common as it may seem to the younger generations as Konpa (Kompa) is slowly turning into a number of different sub-divisions and branches. Konpa (Kompa) was created in the mid-1950’s by a popular Haitian saxophonist and guitarist by the name of Nemours Jean Baptiste, who many credits to be the “Father of Konpa” (Vital). Nemours Jean Baptiste created a group called “Ensemble Aux Calebasses,” which is roughly translated to the Calabash Ensemble
(Alcindor). The band’s name Ensemble Aux Calebasses comes from the club Nemours Jean Baptiste and his band worked at Aux Calebasses. Though, two years after establishing the ever so popular Konpa dirèk, Nemours Jean Baptiste got into an argument with the owner of the club, which later caused the group, Ensemble Aux Calebasses, to lose their jobs as performers of the Aux Calebasses club (Guilbault et al.). Moving from the Aux Calebasses club to the Palladium another club, Jean Baptiste renamed the group Orchestre Compas- Dirèk de Nemours Jean Baptiste (Guilbault et al.). Konpa (Kompa) has a slow tempo that works well with the dance style, which is Méringue. This is where you begin to see one of the many the Spanish influences Haiti has assimilated into their culture from the Portuguese colonization. The word Méringue, however, derives from the French word meringue, which is known as a sweet white colored confection mostly consisting of egg whites, sugar and a bit of salt. Since it is primarily made from egg whites and sugar the confection needs to be beaten until it begins to foam. When the mixture fully consists of foam this is when the meringue is ready to be pipped because it is light and soft. The word Méringue comes from this European sweet confection meringue because the ideal way to dance Konpa (Kompa) is to dance lightly and gracefully on your toes as if you were on air or floating in the air. However, when looking at the Spanish dance, merengue, this style of dance is closely related to the Méringue. The Konpa’s Méringue is usually danced between two dancers, one male, and one female, however, in reality, there are no limitations with who you dance with. There are times you may dance with someone of the opposite gender, your parents, your Tati (aunt), Toto (uncle), cousins and even grandparents. During the Méringue dance, the two partners are to keep each other close by holding the other’s hand. One of the male’s hands rest on the female’s waist and one female’s hand rest on her male partner’s shoulder, meanwhile, their other hand will be touching. This action is similar to the position one would be in during a classical European waltz. When dancing it is on beats of four or eight, which could be taken two to four steps back and two to four steps forward. The beat goes one and two and, on each upbeat, the foot you started with should be stepping and on the downbeat, the foot you took your second step should be stepping. The majority of the time the Konpa’s Méringue uses a duple meter for its dance steps, however, Konpa (Kompa) it is not always on a duple meter as it can be irregular at times. During these irregularities, dancers usually improvise their dance steps until a tangible and consistent beat can be identified. For example, the male may turn his partner around and dip her backward. Initially, Konpa (Kompa) was improvised when Nemours Jean Baptiste first created it. At the time, Jean Baptiste was working at a club and much of the music had areas where a player or singer could improvise. The majority of the Ensemble Aux Calebasses shows at Aux Calebasses where improvised to showcase each of the player's talents. When the band became recognized, that is when the music being composed and recorded. Present day Konpa (Kompa) is composed to be recorded on albums to be heard by people all over the world. Syncopation is a common occurrence with the instruments in older versions of Konpa (Kompa). In the older version of Konpa (Kompa), the main instruments used were the accordion, the cowbell, xylophone, and keyboard. Present day Konpa (Kompa) uses instruments like synthesizers, guitars and the occasional drum, to create sounds that attract the younger generations to allow the genre to flourish. Konpa (Kompa) is a genre of dance music that is not only restricted to a party setting or a celebration. In the Haitian community, music is not a restricted commodity similar to those in African, like the tribes in Angola. Music is a form of expression, not in a formal sense, but music is an informal necessity that helps to form that is used for everyday life for those in the Haitian community. Music is used for any emotion or feeling the individuals may be going through at that time. The use of music allows the individual to express themselves in a way that actual words are unable to. When a Haitian individual is feeling sad, mad or happy, it is very likely if they are unable to verbally express their feelings they will use music as a gateway. Music can be considered a gateway drug to those in the Haitian community because if the living situations many in Haiti face. Economically, the market in Haiti is unstable making its currency is less than that of the United States of America, especially with the debt Haitians are still paying to France. The debt to France originated from the French assisting Haiti in becoming the first country to abolish slavery. This debt has grown tremendously with interest over the years, which has socially and economically not benefitted Haitians. With this situation, Haitians believe in making the best experiences out of life despite the circumstances life has placed you in. For this belief to carry on, Haitians believe one should enjoy life to the fullest. And one visible way to enjoy life to the fullest is to dance and listen to music. Music and dance can transport an individual to another place or world where there are no worries. Without worries to think about, all you can do is enjoy the moment and this is why music and dance are commonly seen as an everyday necessity. With this ideal set as a basic necessity in the life of those in the Haitian community, one could say Konpa (Kompa) was based on this ideology. Music and dance can allow one to easily express themselves in a different from other than verbally, however, with the power of music and dance one can be transported into another world where those worries that threaten them no longer exist. Nemours Jean Baptiste, the “Father of Konpa,” followed this ideology during the creation of Konpa to its debut to the public. Konpa (Kompa) has certain European influences from the French word Compas to the dance style, Méringue, as well as Spanish influences like the Spanish merengue. Overall, Konpa (Kompa) is enjoyed by many though there are different branches of Konpa (Kompa) in the present day, Konpa (Kompa) holds the ideology many Haitians live by.
Latin Jazz is a style of music that blends rhythms and percussion instruments of Cuba and the Caribbean with jazz and its fusion of European and African music. Latin jazz, also called Afro-Cuban jazz, was the culmination of the long interaction between American and Cuban musical styles. A distinctive syncopated rhythm and the Cuban habanera rhythm were endowed to American jazz music in the early 20th century. In the following decades, Latin American melodies and dance rhythms permeated the United States, while American jazz made its way into the Caribbean and Central and South America. In the 1940's the swing era expanded their repertory to include rumbas and congas. The d...
Bachata is a creolized music, meaning that there is both European and African influence. It is also a descendent of a few different Dominican Republic and Cuban forms of music – primarily son, but also merengue and ranchera. Son is music of the African diaspora, commonly involved in debates of African retention. Elements of African music, such as call-and-response and preference for polyrhythm survived the middle passage and are deeply rooted in Caribbean tradition. Stringed instruments are believed to have been part of the European influence on the area, as well as harmonic patterns, as well as verse-chorus structure and prominent duple meter. Modern groups consist of two electric acoustic guitars, an electric bass guitar, a guira (A Dominican Republic percussion instrument), and bongos (Hutchinson). Bachata is thought to have originated in the rural areas, being the music of choice at rural friendly gatherings, similar to son’s roots. Bachata then migrated to the cities with the impoverished as they looked for work. With this move the music transformed into something entirely different from its romantic, seren...
Haiti is the unequivocally the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, indeed, the country is so poor that its citizen cannot even afford eating foods and Haitian children need to eat dirts to stay alive. [1] Nevertheless, Haiti is the home to the only successful slave rebellion; Toussaint Louverture, last governor of French Saint-Domingue, was born a slave.
So I did a survey asking members of the community what did they appreciate the most about the community. The most popular answer received was the music, others were things like food, brother and sister hood ect. I decided to explore Haitian music. As everyone know music have the power to bring us together whether it be in times of joy or even in times of sadness. kompa, is a dance music and modern méringue in Haiti with European and African roots.The genre was popularized following the 1955 creation of the band Conjunto International by Nemours Jean-Baptiste (Wikipedia). Here is example of kompa music: https://youtu.be/hIj2GjfDaoI . Personally I am not a huge fan of the music but I know many people who are and it makes them
Guatemala’s culture is a unique product of Native American ways and a strong Spanish colonial heritage. About half of Guatemala’s population is mestizo (known in Guatemala as ladino), people of mixed European and indigenous ancestry. Ladino culture is dominant in urban areas, and is heavily influenced by European and North American trends. Unlike many Latin American countries, Guatemala still has a large indigenous population, the Maya, which has retained a distinct identity. Deeply rooted in the rural highlands of Guatemala, many indigenous people speak a Mayan language, follow traditional religious and village customs, and continue a rich tradition in textiles and other crafts. The two cultures have made Guatemala a complex society that is deeply divided between rich and poor. This division has produced much of the tension and violence that have marked Guatemala’s history (Guatemalan Culture and History).
Music and dance are important parts of Peruvian culture. “Andean Folk Music is common in Peru. People perform a stylized dance to energetic music mixed with sad songs. Popular instruments include clay panpipes, flutes, conch shell trumpets, and puma-skin drums”(Falconer, Kieran, and Quek 102). The music follows themes of religion, war, and profanity. Peruvians are always found dancing, whether at a festival, carnival, or just for fun. Music shows important parts of Peruvian culture.
Puerto Rico is a small island in the Caribbean that holds a vast, and rich culture. Due to its accessible geographical location, it is often called the key to the Caribbean. Puerto Rico enriched its people with one of the most innate and unique culture different from the rest of the world. The colonization of Spaniards left us not only with myriad architectural heritage, but also with language and cultural traditions that beholds Hispanic imagery and representations. Our music, our love of dancing and festivities, as well as our practice of Catholic beliefs represents
Haiti means “mountains country” Haitian culture represents a specific mix of physical characters especially skin color, hair texture. hair color and facial features the African culture is an ethics mix of African and European elements due to the French, African and indigenous dialects. Major customs of Haitian culture are Catholicism and voodoo a mixture of African animism which means belief in spirits and nature, some Haitians even practice both at one time. There are significant holidays in the Haitian culture as well voodoo is considered a holiday(is a belief system based on practices and traditions that originates from west African traditional regions)
They eat a lot of beans and rice, usually mixed with some sort of meat. Such as pork, goat, lamb, and other meats. On the French side, they eat a lot of spaghetti, they eat spaghetti for breakfast, and make shakes out of it. One of the drinks they make is Haitian hot chocolate. It has Haitian cocoa, star anise, (which is a spice) cinnamon, and vanilla. They eat a lot of mushrooms, and other fresh foods. Haiti also has some customs and traditions. Greetings are very important, men usually shake hands, and women throw kisses. Everyone else kiss on the cheek. They also have a lot of other traditions, such as participating in Carnival, it is very close to New Orlean’s Mardi Gra celebration. Sadly many people also participate in voodoo ceremonies, they have voodoo priests, and priestesses. Other occasions they celebrate are baptisms, first communions, and other catholic traditions. The best thing is that they all believe that children are a gift from
During the course of this semester, the several musical styles that have been discussed and analyzed have displayed various similarities and differences. These differences in certain musical elements have accounted for the distinctiveness and uniqueness of each style of music. The culture behind these countries’ music adds even more to their individualism. Cultural aspects such as religion play a huge role in the music of each country as well. Styles of music in Africa might be more upbeat than certain styles in India, for example. Some cultures use music in religion, while others may not. Aspects such as dance are important factors in all three types of music. Despite the differences and similarities, however, without music, these cultures would perhaps not be as fascinating and unique as they are now.
In what ways has the colonial history of Haiti contributed to the modern social, political, economic and environmental problems facing Haiti today?
Manuel, Peter Lamarche. Caribbean Currents: Caribbean music from rumba to reggae. Philadelphia: Temple University Class, 1995.
The effects caused by earthquakes are devastating. They cause loss of human life and have effects on infrastructure and economy. Earthquakes can happen at any time anywhere. In January 12, 2010 an earthquake of a magnitude of 7.0 hit the nation of Haiti. An estimation of 316,000 people were killed, and more than 1.3 million Haitians were left homeless (Earthquake Information for 2010). Haiti was in a terrified chaos. After the earthquake, families were separated because many of the members were killed. Homes, schools, and hospitals were demolished. People lost their most valuable belongings. It will take time for the country to recover from this terrible disaster. The long damages are economic issues, health-state, and environmental issues that effect in the beautiful island of Haiti.
Music is a form of communication, letting others knows what is going on in the country, political, social or economic and any other problems the people of the Caribbean faced. With so many different ethnic backgrounds in the Caribbean, they are people with Asians, Indians, and Africans descents. This created a language and culture barrier but each ethnic background shared a common link music. Music bridged the gap between the different ethnicities Music is part of everyone’s culture especially here in the Caribbean. Our culture is recognized worldwide for its music. The Caribbean has different genres of music such as calypso, reggae, dance hall, zouk and many others. Our music has roots in both African and European cultures. The drum rhythm comes from the African in...
Puerto Rican music was the ultimate expression of the “Areito” (indigenous artistic traditions) combined in a unitary fashion, oral narrative, dance and music. By the end of the fifteenth century, the Taino Indians had already developed musical instruments used in their ceremonies, religious rituals and daily life. Some of the instruments used during the “Areito” was the “Güiro” and “Maracas” which are still in use as part of the musical traditions. It is unclear whether the Puerto Rican folk music contains elements of