NEW YORK, United States — Grammy Award-winning Reggae artiste Buju Banton proudly represented Jamaica as an Honorary Grand Marshal of the 59th Annual New York Caribbean Carnival Parade.

Held on Labour Day, September 7, along Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway, the event saw Buju sharing the honour with Kees Dieffenthaller of ‘Kes The Band’, bringing together two of the Caribbean’s most influential musical voices.

Representing Jamaica’s reggae and dancehall traditions alongside Kes’ Trinidadian soca and Carnival roots, the artistes reflected the spirit of “One Caribbean” and the cultural connections that unite the region and its diaspora.

The day began with the West Indian American Day Carnival Association’s annual VIP Breakfast at the Carlos Lezama Netball Court in Lincoln Terrace Park, where Buju Banton and Dieffenthaller were formally recognised as Honorary Grand Marshals.

The gathering brought together elected officials, community leaders and cultural ambassadors, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, New York Attorney General Letitia James, United States (US) Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, US House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, New York City Comptroller Mark Levine, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, New York City Council Member Farah N Louis and Irvington, New Jersey Councilwoman Charnette Frederic.

Following the breakfast, Buju Banton took to Eastern Parkway alongside Dieffenthaller and Mamdani, greeting spectators as the parade moved through Brooklyn in a vibrant celebration of Caribbean music, heritage and identity. His presence drew an enthusiastic response from paradegoers, many of whom carried Jamaican flags and celebrated the opportunity to see one of reggae and dancehall’s most respected voices representing the island on the Parkway.

Throughout the procession, Buju Banton also made stops to join the PIX11 crew for live on-camera moments, sharing the energy of the parade and the significance of the occasion with television audiences across New York.

The appearance marked another major cultural moment for Jamaican music in New York and reflected Buju Banton’s enduring connection with Caribbean communities across the diaspora.

His appointment also recognised a career spent carrying the sound, messages and cultural identity of Jamaica to audiences around the world. The honour comes as Buju Banton continues to promote his latest studio album, Too Too Bad, released on July 17 through Gargamel Music/VP Records. The 13-track project includes collaborations with DJ Khaled, Ari Lennox and Gramps Morgan.

For nearly six decades, the New York Caribbean Carnival Parade has transformed Eastern Parkway into one of North America’s largest celebrations of Caribbean culture.

Buju Banton’s participation as Honorary Grand Marshal stood as a proud moment for Jamaica while reinforcing reggae and dancehall’s lasting place within the wider Caribbean story.