Nigerians celebrate Independence Day with colourful parade in New York

Events-Festivals

NEW YORK (Agency Report) — Thousands of Nigerians flooded the streets of Manhattan on Saturday in green and white as they gathered for a colourful Independence Day parade and carnival marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

Nigerians from different walks of life joined diplomats, community organisations, cultural groups, professionals, families and friends for the annual Nigeria Independence Day Parade and Carnival, regarded as one of the largest gatherings of Nigerians abroad.

The celebration began with a procession from East 54th Street along Second Avenue, with participants marching southward in colourful floats, traditional attire and Nigeria’s national colours.

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The procession moved past Nigeria House before terminating around East 44th Street, turning one of Manhattan’s busiest corridors into a sea of green and white.

Nigerian flags were waved from floats and by participants as music, dancing, drumming and chants of national pride accompanied the procession.

Among the prominent Nigerians who joined the parade were UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Amb. Jimoh Ibrahim, and Consul-General of Nigeria in New York, Abubakar Jidda.

They joined community leaders, professionals, students, cultural associations and Nigerians of different generations to celebrate the country’s independence.

For several blocks, Second Avenue became a moving exhibition of Nigerian identity, with participants showcasing traditional outfits representing different parts of the country.

Floats bearing various groups and community organisations rolled through Manhattan as celebrants danced, sang and waved flags to cheers from spectators.

The procession eventually converged at Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza on East 47th Street, where the street parade transformed into a carnival featuring music, food, speeches and entertainment.

The atmosphere became electrifying as Nigerian music stars Patoranking, Runtown and BNXN, formerly known as Buju, took to the stage.

Their performances drew enthusiastic responses from the crowd, with hundreds singing and dancing along to familiar Afrobeats hits.

Patoranking thrilled celebrants with an energetic performance, while Runtown drew enthusiastic responses from fans familiar with his catalogue of international hits.

BNXN also brought his distinctive sound to the carnival, highlighting the growing global reach of Nigeria’s contemporary music industry.

Between performances, participants enjoyed Nigerian delicacies as vendors served an array of traditional meals and snacks.

The aroma of Nigerian cuisine mixed with Afrobeats, traditional music and animated conversations, creating the atmosphere of a Nigerian festival transported into Midtown Manhattan.

Children joined their parents in waving Nigerian flags, while young people turned sections of the plaza into spontaneous dance floors as DJs and artistes kept the celebration alive.

Older Nigerians also appeared in colourful traditional attire, creating a celebration that brought together generations of immigrants and Nigerian-Americans.

The variety of food provided another cultural attraction as participants sampled familiar Nigerian cuisines while socialising with friends and relatives.

For hours, Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza resembled a miniature Nigeria, complete with its music, fashion, food, languages and festive atmosphere.

The Organisation for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN) has coordinated the Nigerian Independence Day celebration in New York since 1991.

OAN said the initiative was conceived to unite Nigerians across ethnic and religious backgrounds while promoting a positive image of the community in the United States.

Many participants told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the event provided an opportunity not only to celebrate Nigeria’s independence but also to reconnect with Nigerian culture, friends and the wider community.