Rita Joseph, Brooklyn City Council member for the 40th District, has introduced Resolution 987 aimed at officially recognizing July 26 as “Haitian Konpa Day” across New York City’s five boroughs. This initiative celebrates Haiti’s emblematic musical genre and its central role within the New York diaspora.

July 26 holds particular significance: it marks the founding date, in 1968, of Tabou Combo, one of the most influential groups in Haitian compas. Since its emergence in the 1950s under the leadership of bandleader Nemours Jean-Baptiste, konpa has energized parties, neighborhoods, and festivals, blending accordion, guitar, and horns into a lively rhythm that embodies joy, resilience, and community spirit.