By TIAMIYU PRUDENCE AROBANI

New York glittered in green and white on Saturday as thousands of Nigerians poured onto Manhattan streets for a colourful Independence Day parade and carnival.

Nigerians from all walks of life joined diplomats, community organisations, cultural groups, professionals, families and friends to celebrate the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

The annual Nigeria Independence Day Parade and Carnival is adjudged the largest gathering 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.

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 in the hands of participants as music, dancing, drumming and chants of national pride accompanied the procession.

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

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

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

Floats bearing 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 of music, food, speeches and entertainment.

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

Their performances sent the crowd into excitement, with hundreds singing and dancing along to familiar Afrobeats hits.

Patoranking thrilled celebrants with his 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, reinforcing the growing global reach of Nigeria’s contemporary music industry.

Between performances, participants savoured 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, giving the gathering the atmosphere of a Nigerian festival transported into Midtown Manhattan.

Children joined parents 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 bridged generations of immigrants and Nigerian-Americans.

The array 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 unmistakable festive energy.

The Organisation for the Advancement of Nigerians 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 NAN that the event provided an opportunity not only to celebrate independence but also to reconnect with Nigerian culture, friends and community. (NAN)

•PHOTO: Nigeria Independence Day Parade and Carnival attended by UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, Nigeria’s Ambassador to the UN, Jimoh Ibrahim and Consul-General of Nigeria in New York, Abubakar Jidda among others on Saturday in New York

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