Reminiscing about Compas Fest

Or as my Americans friends or even not so culturally in-tuned Haitian friends like to call it “Haitian Fest”, which in all actually is what it turns out to be as Kompa is not the only genre of music played. This year, due to the pandemic, a lot of major functions were cancelled and our dear Haitian Compas Festival, which coincides with the Flag day – May 18, has been cancelled.

Compas Festival is the celebration of Haitian culture: the music, food, art, and ultimately the people. I can’t remember another time of the year where we come together in such force, in another country to celebrate the culture; because I mean we do it every year for carnival in Haiti. But to invade an international state, like we do to Florida, oh lawdddd. Floridians do not like us. The traffic we cause for that little weekend is insane. But I would do it every year, san mank – without skipping a beat. I wanted to go down a memory lane and share some of my favorite moments, because this weekend I would have been in Miami.

· First time

My first time was in 2012 with Jenn, and Camille. This trip cost us more we would have liked – we stayed at a luxurious hotel in Coconut Grove, away from the chaos and had to drive 30-40 minutes to all the parties. But the silence, relaxation and bonding we wanted from this vacation we got every time we laid by the pool, conversing for hours, sipping on our colorful drinks – I did not discover Hennessy yet. That year was the first and only time we actually went to the festival – our pictures went viral from that year. Funny story, a fight broke out in front of us and this guy had pushed us out the way to protect us; in true Stephanie manor, I gave him the death stare. Months later we were dating!!!

· Favorite memory

The following year in 2013, I was not letting Mimi, the 4th girl in our group, miss the good times. This time, we were a bit smarter with our money. I had a family friend with a practically empty 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom house in Miramar and was working with Enterprise Rent-a-Car so getting a rental was pocket change. We were set to be in Florida for 5 days, but our return flight got cancelled so we ended staying for a whole week. By day 5, we were already tired of Miami but hey, we were literally on vacation for free so who were we to complain. That year, we went to HKNY Kompa/Zouk therapy – we have a tendency to always be on time to Haitian parties. If the flyer says doors open at 10pm, we will be there at 11 – especially if I am the one driving. So we got there and it was not packed yet. So we went and sat at a Reserved table/VIP. About an hour later, security started to ask some girls at the other tables to show their VIP badges, if not they would need to get up. The girls and I looked at each other like “Nah, we are not getting kicked out of VIP in front of all these people” so how much cash you have ‘cause we are buying bottles TUHDAY hunny! Until today, we laugh about this. The good old days!

· Favorite bal

Favorite bal has to be the All-white at Café Iguana in 2017. It was Kreyol la, which started their set with some Zouk oldies and I was in heaven. When Djakout came on – the performance with Dread Shoudly, we had our little Jersey VIP – It was Jemimah, my right hand in Miami, DJ OK and 20+ other people. Djakout killed it. It was one of these bals were everyone was just enjoying each other and every single sound and trance of live Kompa. It is hard to even put in words being surrounded by your culture and seeing the happiness it brings when you are truly proud of your heritage.

· Favorite party

Yes there is a difference between bals and parties. Bals are with bands and parties are with DJs. So my favorite party was again an HKNY concoction, their Kompa/Zouk therapy in 2012. I danced from the time I walked in until the lights came on, like they really played only Kompa and Zouk like promised on the flyer– the years after that, this party became a medley of other genres which is why I stopped going. But 2012, they had their foot on the festival’s neck and did not let go.

· Favorite drunken moment

Well, awww sheesh the girls will kill me. So in 2013, we attended HKNY’s pool party. We were cute, sitting by the pool, dancing, just enjoying our little summer vacation. By the second hour, we were done. There was some vomiting, some “when did this happen”, “who drove us home”, we took some pictures and literally looked like we were posing for America’s Next Top Model. This evidence should be forever destroyed.

· What I would change

I swear every year I say I am not going. It is always the same 8-10 bands rotating at the bals, I can see them right here at Amazura in NY. I am not paying a whole plane ticket, spending money on glam to see them AGAIN, playing the SAME songs at a festival. Change it up, throw in 3-5 bands we have not enjoyed for some months, or the young bands who do not the opportunity to play, have them open or serve as transition; put in an OG band, try to have an Ex-singer play with his past band. Give away some T-shirts, some type of souvenirs, paraphernalia. Like do SUMTHING. You can’t do the same thing you have been doing for the past 20 years. Innovation is a thing Haitians are scared of.

But I loooooove my Haitian culture. I moved to the US at 15 and for many years visited Haiti once a year. I can do without the food, but that Kompa, when it drops, it’s just different. Plus, I am a beast on the dance floor – had to throw it in here, lol. Kompa is home to me; it is my safe place when I feel stressed, angry, sad, when I miss my family, when I need to think or make a decision. 2021, God willing, Miami li ye tonton! KOMPA IS LIFE! Demantim siw kapab!

What are some of your favorite memories during Compas Festival? Share with us!