In 1896, Haitian President Florvil Hyppolite--a man known for his trademark Panama hat--was overthrown in a coup. The song "Panamam' Tombe" ("My Panama Hat Fell") was quickly composed as commentary on the event, and the song remains popular throughout the Haitian diaspora today. This historical survey of the urban dance music, from Haiti, the Antilles and Dominica, is based mostly on rare mid-20th Century recordings primarily Haitian meringue and Antillean beguine. It shows how the artists closely listened to their competitors and came up with their own delightful innovations to attract the demanding clientele. Gage Averill, professor of ethnomusicology at New York University is our co-producer for this fast-moving, panoramic program.

Meet our contributor

Gage Averill is Professor of Music, Chair of the Music Department, and Coordinator of the Program in Ethnomusicology at New York University. He is author of A Day for the Hunter, A Day for the Prey: Popular Music and Power in Haiti (Chicago 1997) and Four Parts, No Waiting: A Social History of American Barbershop Harmony (Oxford, forthcoming). His research interests include Caribbean popular music, music and power, North American vernacular music, and public sector ethnomusicology.

Bibliography

Featured artists

Kassav


Kassav is a legendary group with over 30 albums to their credit. They fuse native zouk (creole slang word for "party") rhythms with Western elements such as rock guitar and a funk horn section as well as West African guitar and percussion styles. The band's live show is a spectacular, colorful and animated, with memorizing dancers featured as integral members of the band.









Tabou Combo

"Rhythm is the essence of Tabou Combo," says Tabou Combo's co-founder and ex-drummer Herman Nau. The infectious rhythm of Haiti's national dance music, Konpa (con-pah), has propelled the country's preeminent dance band around the world. The 12 members of the band have covered many territories since leaving Haiti and relocating to New York City in 1971. By that time, Tabou had already established itself as Haiti's number one group, and as the "Ambassadors of Konpa." Tabou Combo now has worldwide fans and followers from London to Paris, Holland, Switzerland, Japan, South America, throughout the Caribbean and in North America.

First published: www.afropop.org