BNXN, Runtown and Patoranking to Headline Nigeria’s 66th Independence Parade in New York

BNXN, Runtown and Patoranking are set to bring a major Afrobeats presence to New York for Nigeria’s 66th Independence Day Parade and Carnival.

The three singers will headline the entertainment programme at the celebration on Saturday, October 3, 2026, as Nigerians in the United States mark the country’s 66th independence anniversary. Organisers expect thousands of Nigerians, friends of Nigeria and members of the wider African diaspora to attend.

Funmi Dike, secretary general of the Organization for the Advancement of Nigerians, said the annual event would present Nigeria’s cultural heritage through music, fashion, food, dance and other forms of cultural expression. BNXN, whose real name is Daniel Benson, Runtown, also known as Douglas Jack Agu, and singer-songwriter Patoranking, whose real name is Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie, are expected to provide one of the parade’s main highlights.

Organisers describe the parade as a major gathering for Nigerians living outside the country. It offers the diaspora a chance to reconnect with its heritage and shared national identity. Younger Nigerians born or raised in the United States will also be able to experience Nigerian music, clothing, languages, food and cultural displays.

NUFF JAMZ ENTERTAINMENT INCORPORATED, NYC, will serve as a promotional sponsor. Organisers also thanked Montefiore, the parade’s major sponsor, and Nigeria’s consul general in New York, Ambassador Abubakar Jidda, for supporting the event.