UNESCO to honour Haiti’s Compas music as cultural heritage

UNESCO is set to add Haiti’s Compas music and dance to its Cultural Heritage List, recognising a style born in the 1950s that blends African and Caribbean influences and remains central to Haitian identity. With its distinctive rhythms and romantic two-step dance, Compas has shaped daily life, inspired artists across the region, and helped Haitians endure crises through music and collective memory.