The Trend That Is Detty December: A Season Like No Other

If you have at any point stumbled onto Nigerian Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok in the past few years, chances are you’ve heard the phrase “Detty December.” But have you ever stopped to ask where it came from, or how it became such a cultural phenomenon?

Detty December is the ultimate turn-up season. Think: partying hard, spending money, turning up, and generally letting go of your inhibitions. It’s the final month of the year, when the music is louder, the outfits are bolder, the drinks are flowing, and the parting never ends. It’s back-to-back owambes(click here to see our owambe guide), concerts, festivals, beach days, club nights, and food tours. As the popular TikTok sound says it’s the season of “no sleep, club, another club, another club”

But this wasn’t always a thing. So how did December in Nigeria go from family gatherings and church services to full-blown nationwide flenjor?

The truth about it is no one can accurately say who or were the term originated from but many trace the phrase’s explosion to the early 2010s, right around the time Nigerian pop culture and afrobeats was going through a global glow-up. With Afrobeats crossing borders and Nigerians in the diaspora (IJGBs) flying home for Christmas in droves, December became the unofficial reunion month Social media created FOMO (fear of missing out) which became a source of fuel for the movement and hashtags like #Homecoming, #DecemberInLagos, and yes, #DettyDecember started trending. Instagram stories turned into personal concert vlogs, and everyone wanted to be part of the movement.

During this time the streets of Lagos become a fashion show. Parking lots outside clubs look like car shows. Airport arrivals are full of hugs, squeals, and “You look so good!” reunions. Friends who haven’t seen each other since secondary school are planning dinners to catch up, cousins who have never met are hanging out and creating memories. People who have been single all year are finding love. There's a shared, unspoken understanding: “It’s December. Let’s live. Laugh and love”.

Ultimately for many Detty December is a moment to connect with culture, identity and heritage. It is a reminder that even in the midst of all the chaos of the year there is still a place for joy, friendship and love. So, If you haven’t experienced the magic that is Detty December you honestly need to because it’s guaranteed to blow your mind (click here to see Detty December events) and if you’ve had the pleasure of experiencing Detty December share your experience with us below.