Bunji, Fay-Ann named co-owners of new Crop Over band

2026-03-27 - 01:33

Local soca couple Bunji Garlin and Fay-Ann Lyons are officially co-owners of Barbados’ newest Crop Over band, Mondé Mas, and they are excited. Led and founded by Corey Garrett, a seasoned Barbadian band marketer and tourism professional, the band launched its 2026 theme, A Dance With Dragons, on Monday — or Mondé — night. The event was held at the Wyndham Grand Barbados. The inspiration behind the theme is the “ancient spirit” of Ichirouganaim, the indigenous name for Barbados. The band says the story focuses on the birth, rise and fall of the creatures “once believed to protect the island, now returning to restore rhythm, energy and spirit.” It features five sections, which represent different locations in Barbados: Regalia (Bridgetown), Solaris (Speightstown), Luxora (Holetown), Thalassa (Oistins), and Muma (Chalky Mount). Shades of red, blue, pink, purple and gold took over the runway at the Trident Ballroom as the crowd cheered and took out their phones to capture the moment. Garrett said it was “a vision in the making” for a while, and his aim was to create a band “that feels authentically Barbadian at its core”. He added, “But one that also pushes the boundaries of what the Crop Over experience can be.” The 2026 Crop Over Festival will be held from 3 July to 4 August. He and his team also believe the addition of the T&T soca powerhouses reinforces the band’s commitment to Caribbean unity and cultural exchange. The executive team also includes Barbadian finance executive Craig Hinds, and T&T insurance executive and entertainment investor David Blanc. For Fay-Ann, she sees coming on board as an opportunity to bring culture and energy “to another level”. “Carnival, people and music are everything I love... It’s a unification of two nations, and we hope it inspires more across the region to come together.” Bunji revealed it would be his first time experiencing Kadooment (the finale of Crop Over), so being a co-owner makes it “even more special”. “There’s no better way to be part of it than by helping to build something meaningful from the ground up.” They also joined the models on stage to dance after the presentation was complete. More information is available at cropovermonde.com and on the Crop Over Monde Instagram page.