Although master designer Brian Mac Farlane yesterday bagged an impressive fifth consecutive Band of the Year win, he is yet to take the record from veteran mas extraordinare, Wayne Berkeley, who has won the title six times. Soon after his large band crossed the downtown stage on Carnival Tuesday, Mac Farlane told the media if he copped the title again this year, he would have taken the record away from Berkeley, 70, who, even after suffering a stroke remains an integral part of Carnival.
Mac Farlane won the 2011 Band of the Year title with his presentation, Humanity: The Circle of Life, which he dubbed his most creative to date. However, according to David Lopez, president of the National Carnival Bands Association (NCBA), Berkeley remains the Band of the Year title holder having won from 1989-1994. Yesterday, Lopez confirmed that Mac Farlane needed at least two more wins to be crowned Bands of the Year King. "The records are there and it shows that Wayne Berkeley still holds the title. He won Band of the Year for six consecutive years," he said.
"So, if Mac Farlane wins next year, he will tie with Berkeley for the title, and if he wins the year after that, he will surpass Berkeley, but he hasn't yet." Berkeley, he said yesterday, was "very honoured" that he still held the record and stated it would be "tough" for his fellow mas designer to surpass him anytime soon.
He said, "I'm glad he won but he has to come different. It will be a hard task for him to beat my number of wins and surpass my titles. "I think mas needs serious revamping. I think it was terrible yesterday (Tuesday) and Monday was bad too.
"All the bands are the same from last year...only bikini and beads. Designers have to try harder. They have to cut out all the feathers, feathers overflow. They can use any kind of materials but not feathers."
He added: "The only band that looked good was Trini Revellers because they brought something different." Yesterday, Mac Farlane said he was informed by a "reliable source" he did in fact take the title away from Berkeley but promised he would "double check" his information.
Band of the Year Titles
Berkeley
1989-Heromyth
1990-1990
1991-Swan Lake
1992-Titanic
1993-Strike up the Band
1994-Mirage
Mac Farlane
2007-India-The Story of Boyie
2008-Earth: Cries of Despair-Wings of Hope
2009-Out of Africa: Her People-Her Glory-Her Tears
2010 - Resurrection: The Mas
2011-Humanity: Circle of Life
Source: Trinidad and Tobago Carnival Calendar
