Summary:
- Lagos hosts Detty December, a monthlong party season when Nigerian diaspora returns home for celebrations
- Events run nonstop throughout the month, from exclusive clubs to accessible $7 raves, generating income for local businesses
- The season blends traditional weddings, electronic music raves, Afrobeats concerts, and theatrical church services
Lagos enters peak celebration mode each December. The city of roughly 20 million people hosts what locals call Detty December, a phenomenon that spans the entire final month of the year. From December 1st through New Year's Eve, the metropolis transforms into a continuous celebration of parties, reunions, and extravagant spending.
The name itself requires explanation. "Detty" is a Nigerian slang variation of the word "dirty", but the meaning differs completely from its English root. In local parlance, detty describes something heavy, wild, or intense. Musician Mr. Eazi claims to have coined the term Detty December in 2016, deliberately choosing the spelling to reflect authentic Nigerian street language. The phrase captures the excessive, unrestrained nature of the season. Some people outside Nigeria mistakenly call it "dirty December", but this misses the cultural nuance. Detty carries no negative connotation. The word celebrates abundance and intensity.
The celebration runs for 31 consecutive days. Every night brings parties, not just weekends. The relentless schedule defines the experience. Participants need stamina to survive from the first of December through the final hours of the year.
The season draws Nigerians living abroad back home. Giant Hennessy billboards appear across the city. New clubs open their doors. People escape cold weather in other countries to join Lagos residents for celebrations. Traffic remains constant.
December works best for these celebrations because diaspora members visit home, locals take time off work, and weather conditions stay good. The calendar fills with weddings, street carnivals, champagne parties, dinners, art shows, and food festivals. Major Afrobeats artists like Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy perform concerts near Christmas.
A different scene exists at raves across town. Traditional Detty December events often display wealth, but a rave counterculture offers accessible, less status-focused parties centered on Afro house music. Music echoed through elevator shafts as crowds waited in a chandeliered lobby. Ravers wore varied outfits: Converse sneakers, high heels, beach shorts, berets with jewels, face jewelry, and sunglasses that turned neon green under lights.
Aniko, a female electronic music DJ, co-founded these events. She created spaces welcoming to the LGBTQ community with $7 to $10 entry fees.
Soufiene El Boub
was born and raised in France, where he also pursued his education. With a lifelong passion for sports and storytelling, Soufiene has become a sports editor, known for his insightful analysis writing. His unique perspective, shaped by his French upbringing, adds a distinctive flair to his work in the world of sports journalism.