What a week!
Nigeria’s 65th Independence celebrations turned into a global green wave from October 1–4, 2025. From Madison Avenue in New York to Parramatta in Sydney, diaspora communities packed streets, parks, and rooftop lounges to celebrate culture, food, music, and that famous Naija energy. Here’s a roundup of the biggest moments across major cities worldwide.
New York: The Showstopper
The Big Apple went all out. Thousands marched along Madison Avenue in a parade led by the Organisation for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN) shutting down midtown streets. The festivities wrapped up with a massive carnival at Madison Square Park featuring live performances and A-list Naija acts. It was the largest African celebration outside the continent—and it showed.
Coast-to-Coast U.S. Celebrations
Los Angeles threw Naija Fest ’25 at Grand Park on October 4th, bringing DJs, live sets, food vendors, and cultural showcases that drew the city’s Nigerian and African diaspora. Party vibes spilled into Afrobeats nights across Hollywood all weekend. Meanwhile, Houston’s Nigeria Cultural Parade & Festival returned downtown with its trademark pageantry—a colorful procession followed by food, dance, and community booths that local newspapers called one of the weekend’s standout cultural events.
UK Does It Big
London and Manchester kept the energy high throughout the week. From flag-raisings and community services to Afrobeats brunches and packed club takeovers, the UK observed Nigeria@65 across the calendar. Think civic ceremonies, gospel services, and parties running through the weekend—promoters in both cities kept things lively and well-attended.
Global Celebrations
Dubai and Doha hosted intimate but high-energy gatherings—embassy events, community galas, and nightlife shows honoring Nigeria’s milestone. Social posts captured DJs spinning and well-dressed crowds celebrating. Down Under, Sydney’s Parramatta hosted large Nigerian-themed concerts and parties, while Auckland’s Nigerian associations ran cultural days and flag-raising ceremonies bringing families and students together. Even Cape Town got in on the action with special Naija nights at local clubs and community observances.
The Common Thread
Across the board, themes were the same: green-and-white fashion everywhere, packed stages for Afrobeats and highlife, cultural dance troupes, food stalls selling jollof and suya, and both formal flag-raising services and huge parties stretching into the night. Back home, the FG declared October 1 a public holiday, and while the federal parade in Abuja was canceled, the diaspora answered the call by turning global cities into one massive celebration of Nigerian pride and resilience.
Happy 65th Independence Anniversary, Nigeria! 🇳🇬
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