The music of Haiti is diverse and popular around the world.
The music of Haiti is a product of its history and cultural evolution. Haiti was the world’s first black republic and the distinct styles of music from the country are heavily influenced by the confluence of its Spanish, French and African roots, mixed with a deeply religious and historically contentious cultural atmosphere. Haitian music has bubbled out of a melting pot of cultures to produce several distinctive styles that allow for the creative expression of defiance in the face of oppression, in all forms, through popular music.
Rara
Rara music is a traditional folk music based in the rhythmic Voodoo traditions endemic to Haiti. In its most basic form, it is performed by a group of individuals all playing single-note wind instruments made from bamboo. The players will strike at the side of the bamboo tube creating an additional rhythm to the horns. Rara is hypnotic in its sound as the repetitive beats and rhythms are used as a marching anthem for Haitians who take to the streets for parades during the period of lent.
Compas
Compas is one of the most popular styles of music to come from Haiti. A modern merengue-styled music that co-evolved with the neighboring Dominican Republic, compas music is played by big bands who often improvise around a steady beat from the percussion section of the band. Nemours Jean Baptiste, a famous Haitian jazz musician, is given credit for pioneering the compas style which blossomed in popularity in the 1960’s. Seen as a flexible style that lends itself to artists adding their own distinctive sound to the base rhythms, compas music became a popular style around the world and is recognized as the national music of Haiti.
Mini-Jazz
Mini-Jazz, often spelled mini-djaz, grew out of the compas tradition in the 1960’s, but drew influence from the smaller size of early rock bands. Mini-jazz is usually played by small ensembles and is characterized by swing dance and jazz melodies with elements of rock music such as the electric guitar and bass. Mini-jazz developed in Haiti as a more accessible and popular form of music preferred by younger, middle-class Haitians.
Mizik Rasin
Mizik rasin, Creole for "roots music," is as much a social movement as it is a musical style in Haiti. Developed in the 1980’s by combining traditional Voodoo ceremonial music with the rebellious spirit and sounds of rock and roll, mizik rasin was a means of music protest against the dictatorship in Haiti and the political oppression of young people at the time. With a sound similar to reggae, several rasin artists are keeping the roots-music of Haiti alive and garnering popularity around the world.
