Compas , or
kompa, is a modern
méringue musical genre in
Haiti with European and African roots. The genre was popularized following the 1955 creation of the band Conjunto International by
Nemours Jean-Baptiste. Compas is the main music of many countries such as
Dominica and the
French Antilles, etc. Whether it is called
zouk where French Antilles artists of
Martinique and
Guadeloupe have taken it or compas in places where Haitian artists have toured, this méringue style is very influential in the
Caribbean,
Africa,
Cape Verde,
Portugal,
France, part of
Canada,
South and
North America.