Voices of konpa

NEW YORK —The year was 2008, and Tabou Combo was in rare form, celebrating its 40th anniversary. As a parade of konpa royalty honored the band, shining across the stage in a dazzling lineup, cheers and call-and-response choruses greeted each performer. 

Then, everyone got quiet.

Isnard Douby of System Band and Pierre Raymond Divers, known by his stage name as King Kino—of Phantoms, were at the mic. Their voices blanketed the crowd of thousands, turning its overt revelry into a deep appreciation for the talent on stage.

Douby’s tone, often praised as deep, velvety and disciplined, reminded longtime fans why he was dubbed “the gentleman of konpa.” King Kino, on the other hand, let loose his full vocal range—dramatic, clean, unpredictable—the kind of singer fans say “can start a bal and end a breakup.”

It was a poignant reminder that in Konpa, the voices often implant a feeling more than the lyrics.

Some signature vocals of konpa through the years

Image credits

(In alphabetical order by artist’s name)

Clinton Benoit. SoundCloud artist page
Dely François. Artist’s Instagram page
Alan Cavé. Artist’s Instagram page 
Dener Céide. Haitian Color on Facebook
Eric Charles. Rezonodwes
Pierre Gazzman Couleur. Opamusic.com
Gérard Daniel. AdrienBerthaud.com 
Marie Bedjine Love David. Bedjine Haiti on Facebook
Gracia Delva. SoundCloud artist page
Kenny “Kennyway” Desmangles. Anmwe.com
Pierre Raymond “King Kino” Divers. Mizikanou Facebook
Auguste “Pouchon” Duverger. OpaMusic.com
Isnard Douby. Eddy Ozier Lafontaine via YouTube
Roger “Shoubou” Eugène. Haitian Times file photo 
Joe “Joé Dwèt Filé” Gilles. Artist’s Instagram page
Rutshelle Guillaume. Festival Nuits d’Afrique
Jean Gesner ‘Coupé Cloué’ Henry. Le Témoin Haïti 
Antoine Ossiny “Ti Manno” Jean-Baptiste. Haitian Times file photo 
Arly Larivère. Haitian Times file photo
Joseph Dieudonné Larose. Haïti Inter
Marie Georges “Princesse Georgy” Metellus. ZinLegal / Yo Pou Zin Facebook
Gary Didier Perez. Haitian Times file photo 
Richard “Richie” Jean Hérard. Célébrité Mag
Joseph Michel “Sweet Micky” Martelly. Haitian Times file photo 
Webert Sicot. VibzNation biography page
Jean-Michel “Zouzoul” St-Victor. Haitian Times file photo
Edersse “Pipo” Stanis. Artist Facebook page
Jean Elie “Cubano” Telfort. Mr. Compas via SoundCloud
Joe Trouillot. Histoire Canada
Joseph “TJo” Zenny Junior. Wikipedia artist page

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