TEMPÉO | Kompa-themed Evening

Come celebrate kompa's 70th birthday with the MC Konpa Dance School. Founder Meggie is excited to teach you the basics of this sensual, rhythmic dance. With Richy Jay and DJ Nalee providing the music, you can immerse yourself in the world of kompa.

Created in the mid-1950s by the great Haitian saxophonist Nemours Jean-Baptiste, kompa has become one of the country’s most iconic music and dance genres. Designated in 2025 as part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, it now extends far beyond Haiti’s borders.

Kompa’s infectious, syncopated rhythms bring people together and build connections; this is a music and dance style that’s meant to be shared!

Dancing, from 6 p.m.: MC Konpa

Get into the Caribbean groove with the MC Konpa Dance School. This evening, the festival welcomes Meggie, a pioneer who has been working to promote kompa in Canada and around the world. Meggie loves to share her rich Haitian heritage with her students by creating an atmosphere filled with learning, growth, fun, and connection.

Music, from 7 p.m.: Richy Jay

Haitian-born, Montréal-based artist and singer Richy Jay's music is shaped by influences such as zouk, kompa, and afropop. His high-energy, upbeat shows are sure to get audiences dancing.

Named Canadian-Haitian Artist of the Year for 2024 at the Prestigious Haitian Music Awards, Richy Jay writes songs that are all about resilience, love, and identity. His new album, Caribbean Love, explores and celebrates love in all its multifaceted forms in many different languages: Haitian Creole, French, English, and Spanish.

The artist was also featured on the soundtrack for the hit TV series Heated Rivalry, which includes his songs En dedans and De la tête aux pieds.

DJ set, from 8:30 p.m.: DJ Nalee

DJ Nalee's musical signature blends Afro, Caribbean, and kompa sounds. A Montréal-based DJ of Haitian descent, her high-energy sets rooted in her Haitian heritage set dance floors ablaze. A rising star in the Afro-Caribbean music world, she's known for being tuned in to the moment and creating the perfect vibe for the time, crowd and venue. Her approach is all about culture, rhythm and connection, giving people an experience that transcends the dance floor.