Festivals Commission Backs Knighthood for Burning Flames

The Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission (ABFC) has thrown its full support behind a recommendation to grant Knighthood to members of the iconic soca band, Burning Flames, during the nation’s 44th Independence celebrations.

The proposal, put forward by Prime Minister Gaston Browne and Minister of Education, Sports and Creative Industries Daryll Matthew, recognizes the group’s four-decade-long contribution to music and culture in Antigua and Barbuda.

Formed in 1984 in Potters Village, Burning Flames reshaped the sound of Carnival with their electrifying fusion of soca, calypso, reggae, zouk, funk and cutting-edge technology. With more than 30 albums and a record-breaking 17 Road March titles, they remain the most successful band in Antigua Carnival history. Their hits — including Workey Workey, Crazy, Swinging Engine, and Island Girl — became anthems at home and across the Caribbean, while their tours and collaborations elevated Antiguan soca to international audiences.

ABFC Chairperson Ambassador Elizabeth Makhoul called the honor “most fitting,” adding: “Burning Flames have shaped our Carnival, our culture, and inspired generations for the last 40 years. Their music is the soundtrack of our lives and a true expression of Antiguan pride.”

Minister Matthew also described the recognition as long overdue, noting the band’s influence “set them apart as cultural icons.”

In a tribute earlier this Carnival season, the Cabinet renamed Potters Village Road as Burning Flames Highway — a permanent reminder of the group’s deep roots and enduring impact.

If approved, Clarence “Oungku” Edwards, Toriano “King Onyan” Edwards, David “Bubb” Edwards, and Rone “Foxx” Watkins will join the nation’s most distinguished cultural figures, marking a historic moment in Antigua and Barbuda’s creative history.