So, you’ve heard the phrase, right? “Detty December.” It promises endless parties, overflowing social calendars, and a general state of joyful, unapologetic chaos. But if you’ve ever found yourself in Lagos during the festive season, you know “detty” isn’t just a word, it’s a way of life. It’s the annual pilgrimage, the grand finale, the time when Nigeria’s mega-city transforms into a sprawling, vibrant playground.
But how did we get here? Who first coined the phrase, or rather, who bottled the essence of December in Lagos and gave it this perfectly “detty” label?
From Homecoming to Highlife: The Genesis of the Groove
Before “Detty December” was a trending hashtag, December in Lagos was always the month. It was the original “homecoming season.” Nigerians living abroad, affectionately called “I Just Got Back (IJGBs),” would flock back home. Their arrival brought with it a different energy, an influx of foreign currency, new fashion trends, and a desire to reconnect and celebrate.
Traditionally, Christmas and New Year in Nigeria have always been big family affairs. Feasts, church services, visiting relatives. But as Lagos grew, so did its appetite for entertainment. The city’s inherent hustle and vibrant youth culture started to merge with this homecoming tradition. Hotels would get fully booked, event centers would host lavish weddings, and local spots would come alive.
The shift from a purely family-centric celebration to a more social, event-driven spectacle was gradual, fueled by a few key ingredients:
- The Rise of Afrobeats & The Concert Boom: Let’s be real, you can’t talk about Detty December without talking about music. As Afrobeats exploded globally in the 2010s, Nigerian artists like Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage, and many others became international superstars. What better way for them to cap off a successful year than with massive, sold-out concerts in their home city? These shows became the anchor events, drawing in huge crowds, not just from within Nigeria but across Africa and the diaspora. Suddenly, December was less about if your favorite artist was performing and more about which concert you were going to first.
- The Event Economy Takes Off: Beyond concerts, a whole ecosystem of events began to flourish. Beach parties, pool parties, pop-up restaurants, fashion shows, art exhibitions, stand-up comedy specials, exclusive club nights, you name it, Lagos probably has it running through December. Event promoters and hospitality entrepreneurs realized the golden opportunity of the festive season and started curating bespoke experiences.
- Social Media as the Hype Machine: This is where “Detty December” truly got its wings. The advent of Instagram, X, and Snapchat provided the perfect platforms for people to share their experiences, create FOMO, and collectively brand the entire month. The constant stream of dazzling photos and videos from parties, concerts, and gatherings created a self-fulfilling prophecy, everyone wanted to be part of the “detty” experience.
So, Who Started ‘Detty December’?
It’s hard to pinpoint one single individual or event that birthed the phrase “Detty December.” It’s more of an organic cultural phenomenon that was gradually adopted and popularized by the youth and social media.
Think of it as a collective consciousness forming around a shared experience. As the concerts grew bigger, the parties wilder, and the “IJGBs” crowd swelled, someone, somewhere, likely said something along the lines of, “This December is just too ‘detty’!” “Detty,” in Nigerian pidgin, implies something messy, untidy, or excessively indulgent, a perfect descriptor for a month where inhibitions are shed, budgets are stretched, and sleep becomes a distant memory.
The phrase likely gained significant traction and became widely adopted around the mid-2010s, coinciding with the peak of Afrobeats’ global rise and the increased use of social media for event promotion. Influencers, artists, and event organizers then embraced it, cementing its place in popular lexicon.
The Detty December Experience Today: More Than Just Partying
While the “detty” in “Detty December” primarily refers to the non-stop partying and spending, it has evolved into something more. It’s a celebration of Nigerian culture, resilience, and success. It’s a time for networking, forging new connections, and reinforcing old ones. It’s a showcase of fashion, music, and entrepreneurial spirit.
It’s the Lagos energy amplified by a thousand watts, a beautiful, chaotic, unforgettable whirlwind that leaves you exhausted, perhaps a little broke, but utterly exhilarated and already planning your return for the next “Detty December.”
Whether you’re sipping cocktails at a rooftop bar, dancing till dawn at a beach party, or screaming lyrics at a stadium concert, one thing is clear, December in Lagos isn’t just a month; it’s a movement, a vibe, a promise. And it’s definitely, unapologetically, “detty.”
