Tabou Combo: Haitian compas legends to be featured on RFI

The legendary Haitian compas group Tabou Combo is being honored for its decades of musical influence. Radio France Internationale (RFI) will broadcast an exceptional concert by the group on September 10, 2026. The performance was recorded on July 18 at the 40th edition of the Nuits d’Afrique festival in Montreal.

Formed in Pétion-Ville in 1968, Tabou Combo transitioned from the ‘mini-jazz’ era to become a global ambassador for compas. After relocating to Brooklyn in the early 1970s, the group achieved significant international success, notably with the 1974 hit ‘New York City,’ which became a major summer hit in France and helped expand the reach of Caribbean music beyond its origins.

The group’s legacy helped pave the way for other genres, such as zouk, and their musical style is part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity recognized by UNESCO. For over fifty years, Tabou Combo has maintained a strong musical identity while performing on major international stages from Paris to Dakar.