Why July 26? The Origins of Konpa (Compas Direct) The date July 26, 1955 marks a historic moment in Haitian music history. On that day, pioneering musician Nemours Jean‑Baptiste introduced his band (initially known as Coronto International, soon Ensemble Nemours Jean-Baptiste), laying the foundation for the genre known as Konpa (also spelled “Compas”). Konpa (or...
