Konbit

Konbit (also spelled coumbite) is a Haitian Creole term for a Creole word for co-operation[1]. A Haitian traditional form of communal working group in a sociopolitical sense[2]. Commonly used as an agricultural group[3], political action, community patrol, arts and dance groups. Similar to barn raising in North America.[4] A related type of communal work is a kóve.[4]

## Etymology

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The Spanish word "convite" is used in the Dominican Republic in a somewhat similar way.[5] The word "convite" means invite, a board or "junta" in that context.[6]

## Use

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The term is used in the names of some Haitian and diaspora NGOs, and even of several Haitian political parties. It can also refer to a style of Haitian music and dance associated with work parties,[7][8] possibly being a form of influence on Rara music,[9] and the sense of solidarity has also been compared to that of hip-hop culture.[10]
Kombit dans (Dance troupes) perform at all facets of events and festivals of society.

## References

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1. ^ Foley, Martha (March 1922). "Americanizing Haiti". The Liberator. 5 (3): 16.
2. ^ Jones, Bridget; Barratt, Harold; Hamner, Robert D. (December 1979). "Book Reviews". Caribbean Quarterly. 25 (4): 75. doi:10.1080/00086495.1979.11829309.
3. ^ Aubin, Eugène (1863). En Haïti; planteurs d'autrefois, nègres d'aujourd'hui. Paris : A. Colin. p. 132.
4. ^ a b Smith, Jennie M. (2018-05-31). When the Hands Are Many: Community Organization and Social Change in Rural Haiti. Cornell University Press. pp. 83–88\. ISBN 978-1-5017-1797-0.
5. ^ Kohrt, Brandon A.; Mendenhall, Emily (2016-07-01). Global Mental Health: Anthropological Perspectives. Routledge. p. 111\. ISBN 978-1-315-42803-1.
6. ^ Domínguez, Iván; Dominguez, Ivan; Castillo, José; Tejeda, Dagoberto (1978). Almanaque folklórico dominicano (in Spanish). Editora Alfa y Omega. pp. 118–119.
7. ^ Daniel, Yvonne (2005). Dancing Wisdom: Embodied Knowledge in Haitian Vodou, Cuban Yoruba, and Bahian Candomblé. University of Illinois Press. p. 115\. ISBN 978-0-252-07207-9.
8. ^ Olsen, Dale; Sheehy, Daniel (2007-12-17). The Garland Handbook of Latin American Music. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-135-90007-6.
9. ^ Jong, Nanette de (2022-08-04). The Cambridge Companion to Caribbean Music. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-108-38641-8.
10. ^ Bérubé, Julie; Dioh, Marie-Laure; Cuyler, Antonio C. (2024-08-20). Accessibility, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Cultural Sector: Initiatives and Lessons Learned from Real-life Cases. Emerald Group Publishing. p. 43\. ISBN 978-1-83753-036-6.