A new contender has officially entered the Crop Over landscape with the launch of Monde Mas, unveiling its debut 2026 presentation, “A Dance with Dragons,” at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Trident Ballroom recently. The theme promises a fusion of mythology, heritage, and culture, brought to life across five distinct sections.
The band’s leadership team reflects a regional collaboration, featuring Barbadians Corey Garrett and Craig Hinds, alongside Trinidadian soca powerhouses Bunji Garlin and Fay-Ann Lyons, as well as entertainment investor David Blanc.
Garrett reflected on the journey to bringing the band to life. “
“I was happy to debut the newest band on the circuit. It was years in planning . . . at least two years . . . deciding when to enter. We are taking years of experience across our teams and putting it into innovation for our consumers and for our patrons,” he said. He added that Monde Mas is “a dynamic movement rooted in Barbados, hence the name because Monday is the day for Barbados carnival,” while outlining ambitions to expand beyond the island. “The vision [is] to take it to different carnivals after Crop Over.”
The launch comes amid growing excitement for the Crop Over season, with industry stakeholders welcoming the addition of a new band. Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office with day-to-day responsibility for Youth and Culture Shane Archer noted the momentum already building.
“I’m here at my third band launch for the season, so you can say that Crop Over is in full effect,” Archer said. “I just wanted to come across and talk to Corey and the team. We look forward to seeing you on the road on Monday.”
He stressed the importance of continued investment in the festival. “The more we invest in our country Crop Over is our thing. And the more that we see initiatives like this coming forward, the more bands we can see and serious people being involved in the industry, the better it is for Crop Over to grow,” he said. Archer added confidently, “I believe that we have the best festival in the Caribbean . . . we have the best events and I hope that this year we can really take Crop Over to the next level.” President of the Barbados Association of Masqueraders, Brian Worrell, also welcomed the new band, describing its launch as a significant moment for the masquerade industry. “Masqueraders, it’s truly an honour . . . to celebrate not just the launch of a new band, but the birth of new energy . . . new creativity, new possibilities within the masquerade landscape of Barbados,” Worrell said. “Tonight we welcome Monde Mas into tradition that is deeply rooted in our history, our identity, and our expression as a people.” He stressed that masquerade goes beyond spectacle. “Masquerading Barbados is more than costumes and revelry. It’s storytelling. It’s resistance, celebration, artistry, community woven together through music, movement, and imagination,” he said. Worrell added that the band’s arrival represents “courage . . . to create, to invest, to innovate, and to believe in culture as a driving force for our national development.”
Highlighting industry challenges, he noted the importance of new entrants. “We’ve been suffering for a few years with some drop-offs in bands, so it’s a welcome sight to have a serious band coming into the fraternity,” he said. “New players bring fresh concepts . . . every new band creates employment . . .
[and] sustainability for Crop Over strengthens.”
For co-owner Lyons, the venture represents both business and cultural exchange. “It is wonderful to be here. Carnival is all business . . . music, soca, so anything that involves those mixture of things and culture, we appreciate the opportunity to be involved,” she said. Reflecting on her longstanding connection to Barbados, she added, “Barbados has been a stomping ground for us for many, many years . . . so it’s coming full circle . . . now we’re bringing it back in the form of music, culture, and everything that we’ve learned.”
Lyons also underscored the regional unity behind the project. “This is a unification of two nations coming together and we hope to encourage more nations to come together. Every country has a Monday,” she said.
Her husband and fellow co-owner Garlin echoed that sentiment while sharing a personal milestone. “We have been stomping through Barbados for many, many years. Unfortunately for me, I never got a chance to be on the road for Crop Over ever in my life. So I think this is the real way to enter and be a part of the road in Barbados,” he said.
“As much as this is a collaboration across the waters, we’re still in the same waters, so we’re still the same people. And that is paramount for me.”
