Zohran Mamdani was sworn in on a freezing New Year’s morning as New York’s 112th mayor and, as confetti fell outside City Hall, the inauguration’s soundtrack made a clear statement about the city’s diversity. Brampton-based Sikh rapper Babbu Singh, known as Babbulicious, closed the ceremony with a Punjabi-inflected performance that reworked his hit to name-check Manhattan, the Bronx, Harlem and Staten Island.
Zohran Mamdani inauguration showcases multicultural New York
The moment was playful and unifying. Singh, in a bright pink turban, substituted local neighbourhood names into his chorus — “New York vich munda rainda,” he sang — and Mayor Mamdani stood to the side, smiling, singing along and applauding as the crowd cheered. The choice of music, including a remix of Labh Janjua’s “Mundian to bach ke,” highlighted how diasporic South Asian culture is now part of public civic life in the United States.
Singh, who left art university aged 19 to pursue videos and skits, has established himself across platforms as a comedian, musician, designer and children’s author. His work, which includes collaborations with Canadian YouTuber Jasmeet “JusReign” Singh, aims to raise awareness of the Sikh community in Western countries. One of his well-known characters, Khalsa Uncle, draws on encounters from political campaigns in Canada and blends humour with social commentary about the immigrant experience.
The inauguration playlist did more than spotlight one performer. DJ mOma, who is Sudanese-born and the child of immigrants, manned the console. Actor Javier Muñoz, who has Puerto Rican roots, sang the national anthem, while actor Mandy Patinkin led a rendition of “Over the Rainbow” alongside a Staten Island elementary school chorus. American poet Cornelius Eady, whose writing examines race and society, offered a reading before Singh invited attendees to join the celebration.
That public display of multicultural artistic voices drew enthusiastic applause but also provoked a wave of misinformed social media commentary. Some posts misidentified performers’ faiths or origins and, in a few cases, veered into xenophobic reaction. The disinformation served as a reminder that cultural representation at civic events can expose broader tensions even as it affirms inclusion.
Despite the cold and a few off-key moments, observers said the ceremony felt distinctly New York: multilingual, musically varied and open to unlikely combinations. For many attendees, the image of a mayor taking his oath with a hand on the Quran while celebrating to Punjabi music captured a modern urban identity — one where immigrant cultures are woven into public ritual.
As Mamdani begins his term, the inauguration’s soundtrack will be remembered not for any technical perfection but for its symbolic message. It was a deliberate assertion that the city’s public life reflects the different tongues and traditions of its residents, including those whose origins trace back to India and the broader South Asian diaspora.
Key Takeaways:
- Zohran Mamdani inauguration in New York featured Brampton-based Sikh rapper Babbu Singh, signalling a celebration of multicultural civic identity.
- The playlist mixed Punjabi hits with American standards, reflecting the city’s linguistic and cultural diversity.
- Performances included Sudanese-born DJ mOma, actors Javier Muñoz and Mandy Patinkin, and poet Cornelius Eady, emphasising broad community representation.
- Social media reactions ranged from celebration to misidentification and hate speech, underscoring challenges around misinformation.
