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- Unity Concert and parade culminated in Canarsie with a carnival atmosphere, propelled by five music trucks and flag-waving revelers.
- Renowned vocalist Dr. Cherryann Hislop and Lisa Punch opened with emotional renditions of the US and Guyanese national anthems.
- Political leaders including Congresswoman Yvette Clarke and Hakeem Jeffries addressed the crowd, pledging continued support for Guyanese Americans.
- Cultural showcases by AYAM Entertainment Group, drummers Jermaine Fifee and Akoyaw Rudd, and numerous DJs celebrated Guyana's diverse heritage.
- Soca highlights featured Brandon Harding and seven-time monarch Jumo Primo, whose encore electrified the crowd; NYPD reported the event incident-free.
The Brooklyn-based Guyana Independence Celebration Committee New York said on Wednesday, June 17, that over 10,000 people attended Guyana’s “historic and epic” Diamond Jubilee Independence Parade and Unity Concert in Brooklyn on Sunday, June 7, 2026.
“This celebration was historic,” said Committee Chairman Rickford Burke. “It attracted over 10,000 participants as an epic, awesome display of Guyanese love and patriotic fervor.
“Thousands of gen-z and gen-x Guyanese joined older generations of Guyanese in the parade, which formed a sea of people who took Church Avenue by storm,” he added. “The crowd grew to 10 to 15,000 people as the parade entered Linden Boulevard, a major highway that runs through Brooklyn.
“The infectious, flag-waving Guyanese multitude, bedecked in green, red, white, gold and black — the colors of the Guyana flag — then stormed into Rockaway Avenue,” Burke continued. “The revelers, powered by five music trucks, which blasted Guyanese and other Soca music, jumped and gyrated in jubilation and national pride, creating an energetic, carnival atmosphere as the parade culminated at the concert venue on Foster Avenue in Canarsie, Brooklyn.”
He said The Unity Concert was also a “phenomenal success,” stating that New York City-based renowned vocalist, Dr. Cherryann Hislop, opened with a “beautiful rendition” of the Star-spangled Banner.
Burke said “the incredible” Lisa Punch followed with a stirring rendition of the Guyanese national anthem.
Rickford Burke himself delivered electrifying welcome remarks, firing up the crowd further.
He was followed by grand marshals, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke and Jayden Andries, the 2025 top CSEC student for Guyana.
Burke said several elected officials, including New York City Council Members Chris Banks and Mercedes Narcisse, as well as New York State Assembly Members Monique Chandler-Waterman and Jamie Williams, graced the stage to bring greetings.
He said Congressional Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who represents the 8th Congressional District, encompassing parts of Brooklyn and Queens, also took to the stage amid thunderous applause, declaring that he was proud to represent Guyanese Americans in “Region Eleven.”
Jeffries stated that he and his colleague, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, representative for the 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn, as joint representatives of the largest community of Guyanese in the US, will continue to fight for the rights of Guyanese both in the US and in Guyana.
Burke said the AYAM Entertainment Group delivered an “exceptional performance,” showcasing the rich tapestry of Guyana’s ethnic groups, while paying homage to the Yoruba singers in -This is Guyana!
Drummers Jermaine Fifee and Akoyaw Ruddbrought brought the theme “Feel the Riddim of the Nation the Nation @ 60” to life with a medley of folk songs that evoked nostalgia among the audience, Burke said.
He said other performers included Super Terry – the one-man band, DJs Paytriad, Energy MNB Jay, Fari, GT Boss, Flex, and Eazze, “who kept the energy high.”
The audience also enjoyed conscious reggae music from Pablo G, Ras Redemption and Zebulun De Counselor. They were followed by dancehall artistes Kira Devine, Okeke, Jace Jay, Trev Mulah, Mafi, War Child, Vibes Mattic, Nia, Stretch, Sactz, Gazzie 19, Bruck Up, Mitr3, and SpinCity Chris.
“The atmosphere became ecstatic when the mega concert transitioned to the Soca segment, where Trinidad Killa treated the concert goers to his hit collaboration with Nicki Minaj, igniting the energy,” Burke said.
He said the excitement escalated further when Brandon Harding, Guyana’s two-time Soca Monarch and Guyana’s Jingle Competition champion, took the stage.
Burke said the highlight of the concert came during the encore, when the seven-time Guyana Soca Monarch and former lead singer of Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, Jumo Primo, also known as “Rubber Waist,” took the spotlight and brought the house down, creating “a truly historic moment for the Guyana Independence celebration in New York as the curtain came down on the day’s celebration.”
Popular Guyanese DJ “Red Rum” and Nekita Luke hosted the show.
“The predominantly Guyanese crowd behaved well, resulting in a safe, highly successful event,” said Burke, stating that the NYPD reported that the celebration was incident free.
“Our Guyanese, especially our young people —over 10,000 strong — showed up and represented Guyana and our Guyanese culture with unprecedented pride,” he added, extending special thanks to supporters and participants.
“We thank you and love you,” Burke continued. “Your constant, growing support is the singular reason for our success as an organization.”
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