“Detty December” is more than just a catchy slogan; it’s a season, and—most importantly—a ritual that only Nigerians understand in its full splendor.
It is not the season just about wrapping up the year. For most average Nigerians, December is when we throw budgets, and sometimes good behavior out the window, all for the sake of enjoyment. And by enjoyment, I don’t mean small gatherings, light jollof rice, and one or two sodas. I mean real enjoyment.
Talking about concerts, parties, weddings, road trips, and never-ending bottles of champagne, even if it means scraping the bank account. But to understand Detty December is to understand the psychology behind it and why this month hits differently to Nigerians.
The Year of Hustle & Survival
For Nigerians, the entire year is a grind. It doesn’t matter if you’re sweating it out in Lagos traffic, spending endless hours at the bank, or dealing with surprise “fuel scarcity,” by the time December rolls around, the average Nigerian is spent. The days and nights have been swallowed by endless hustle, and survival mode has been set to max. So when December comes, it’s like the “calm down” after the stressful Monday you can imagine.
It’s time to give yourself permission to breathe, to forget the economy, the increase in fuel price and the national grid that fell many times, and to enter an altered reality of pure vibes.
Concerts & the Quest for Enjoyment
Now, if there’s one area where Detty December shines, it’s the back-to-back concerts. Artistes from Asake to Davido all know that if there’s one month they need to lock down Lagos, it’s December. You’ve got the big headliners, and then you have a sea of day parties, night parties, brunches, and pop-ups, where everyone who can afford a ticket or even “knows somebody” is present.
There’s an energy in Nigerian crowds during December that simply doesn’t exist anywhere else. It is like people are screaming for their lives, reliving an entire year in one night of jumping, shouting, and singing.
The “IJGB” People Role
Let’s not forget our cousins in the diaspora. Detty December wouldn’t be the same without the “IJGB”—which means “I just got back”—people. They roll in fresh off their flights from London or Atlanta, bringing their curious accents and flashy clothes with them. They’re the ones who give us that extra boost of “foreign” energy, and reminds us that Nigeria, no matter how bad it gets, is worth returning to. Just like what Sound Sultan sings about in “Motherland”.
Weddings and Traditional Celebrations
But let’s talk about another dimension of Detty December that’s often overlooked—the weddings. December in Nigeria is the official wedding season, and this is no exaggeration. If you’re on Instagram around this time, it’s just “#AsoEbiBella” and “#YorubaDemons” trending non-stop. There’s a line-up of weddings that you could literally attend one every day, and you would still not exhaust your options.
The thing about December weddings is that they’re mini Detty December festivals of their own. The ladies pull out their best Aso Ebi styles, the men iron out their Agbada folds to perfection, and somewhere, a groom’s best man is hyping up the crowd to do that famous “Zanku” and “Shoki” dance move.
The “Japa January” Thoughts
As the parties continue, there’s always that lingering thought that everyone tries to shove to the back of their minds: January is coming. In Detty December, your savings, dignity, and perhaps even your New Year’s resolutions are put on hold. It’s all “till January.”
We all know the sensation of checking your bank account around the 3rd of January and realizing the “dettying” has affected your bank balance in ways you didn’t predict. But it’s all part of the ritual. January will come with its hardships, its “japa” urges, and the reality of another long year ahead. But for that one month, Nigerians embrace a freedom that feels almost spiritual.
Detty December is a period where people live to the fullest, but to Nigerians, It means reclaiming joy in a country that tries to drain it. And above all, it means that for one month, we dance, sing, and spend as though there’s no tomorrow. And maybe that’s all we need to survive the rest of the year.
