Compas Dance Takes UNESCO Stage

Compas music and dance is expected to be added by UNESCO to its Intangible Cultural Heritage list on Wednesday.

Dominique Dupuy, Haiti’s former foreign affairs minister, called the inclusion of compas on UNESCO’s list “an ode to joy.”

Compas "is the collective memory of the nation," Emmelie Prophete, former culture minister, who worked on the UNESCO application, said.

"We are delighted with this inscription on the list," she added. "This recognition comes at a time when we need to talk about Haiti in a way other than its political and security issues."

"Today, compas is the main artistic (and) musical representation of Haiti abroad," said Frantz Duval, the director of Ticket, the country's leading cultural magazine.