THE SHORT VERSION / Detty December origin and history
Detty December grew out of a much older tradition: Nigerians and Ghanaians travelling home for Christmas. The phrase itself dates to 2016, when the Nigerian singer Mr Eazi says he coined it to promote a concert. It spread through his Detty Rave parties in Accra, then through social media, until it became the name for the whole December season in Lagos and Accra.
- The tradition
- December homecoming
- The phrase
- 2016
- Credited to
- Mr Eazi
- 'Detty' means
- 'Dirty', as in going all out
- Turning point
- Ghana's Year of Return, 2019
- Main cities
- Lagos and Accra
Detty December timeline: 10 moments that made the season
- Before the name: the Christmas homecoming. For generations, Nigerians and Ghanaians in the cities and abroad have travelled home in December for Christmas, weddings and family. The parties came with them.
- 2004: Rhythm Unplugged begins in Lagos. Flytime's December concert became an annual fixture and the start of the Lagos concert calendar.
- Mid-2000s: Calabar Carnival grows. Cross River State built a month-long December festival, branded Africa's biggest street party. See the Calabar Carnival guide.
- 2016: the phrase appears. Mr Eazi says he coined "Detty December" in 2016 while promoting the first concert he headlined, as Deeds Magazine recounts.
- 2017: Detty Rave and Afrochella. Mr Eazi's Detty Rave became an annual party in Accra, and Afrochella (now AfroFuture) launched in the same city.
- 2019: Ghana's Year of Return. Ghana invited the African diaspora home, 400 years after the first enslaved Africans arrived in Virginia. Afro Nation held its first Ghana festival that December. Read the Year of Return explainer.
- 2020: the pause. The pandemic cancelled or shrank most events.
- 2022 onwards: the comeback. Returnees, tourists and global artists came back in larger numbers, and "Detty December" became a mainstream travel term.
- 2024: the money gets counted. Lagos State officials said the December 2024 season generated more than $71 million in tourism, hospitality and entertainment revenue.
- 2026: bigger and longer. Detty December Fest runs for 13 days in Lagos, Davido plays a three-night residency and AfroFuture opens a permanent venue in Accra. See the Lagos December 2026 calendar.
Who started Detty December?
No single person started the celebration. The December homecoming is decades older than the phrase.
The name is most often credited to Mr Eazi, the Nigerian singer who built his early career in Ghana. He says he came up with "Detty December" in 2016 to promote a concert, and later used the word for his Detty Rave parties. Other people have also claimed a role in coining it, and the origin is still debated. The Wikipedia entry on Detty December) summarises the term's use among returnees.
Where did Detty December originate: Ghana or Nigeria?
Both countries have a claim.
| Nigeria | Ghana | |
|---|---|---|
| The tradition | Christmas homecoming, Lagos December concerts since the 2000s | Christmas homecoming, beach and highlife culture |
| The phrase | Coined by a Nigerian artist, Mr Eazi | Popularised through Detty Rave in Accra |
| The global push | Afrobeats stars and Lagos concert weeks | The Year of Return in 2019 |
| Main city | Lagos | Accra |
The fairest answer: the phrase came from a Nigerian artist working between Lagos and Accra, and both cities made it famous.
Why is it called "Detty" December?
"Detty" is a playful West African Pidgin spelling of "dirty". To "get detty" means to let loose and enjoy yourself without holding back. It has nothing to do with being unclean. Read what Detty December means.
Who owns the name Detty December?
"Detty December" is used by everyone as the name of the season. Separate businesses have also registered or applied for trademarks on event names that include it. Read the Detty December trademark guide for what that does and does not cover.
Why did Detty December get so big?
- The diaspora grew and came home. Millions of Nigerians and Ghanaians abroad plan their year around December.
- Afrobeats went global. Fans now travel to see artists at home.
- The weather is at its best. December is dry in both Lagos and Accra. See Lagos weather in December.
- Everyone is free at once. Schools, offices and wedding season line up with Christmas and New Year.
- Social media sold it. Videos of beach parties and concerts became the season's best advert.
Frequently asked questions
Who started Detty December?
No single person started the December celebrations, which grew from the long tradition of going home for Christmas. The phrase 'Detty December' is most often credited to the Nigerian singer Mr Eazi, who says he coined it in 2016 to promote a concert.
When did Detty December start?
The phrase 'Detty December' dates to 2016. The December homecoming and party season it describes is decades older, and Lagos has had big December concerts since the early 2000s.
Which country started Detty December, Ghana or Nigeria?
Both have a claim. The phrase is credited to a Nigerian artist, Mr Eazi, and was popularised through his Detty Rave parties in Accra, Ghana. Lagos and Accra are the two main Detty December cities.
Why is it called Detty December?
'Detty' is a playful West African Pidgin spelling of 'dirty'. To 'get detty' means to let loose and celebrate without holding back.
How much money does Detty December make for Lagos?
Lagos State officials said the December 2024 season generated more than $71 million in tourism, hospitality and entertainment revenue.
Keep planning
Who owns “Detty December”? The trademark story explained
Ghana's Year of Return and how it shaped Detty December
IJGB meaning in Nigeria: “I Just Got Back”
Detty December for first-timers: 20 tips before you go