By Kanma-Okafor Chisom Chidinma

A new Lagos
If you had told me when I was younger that one day, December in Nigeria would rival Coachella in vibes and Cannes in price tags, I would have laughed you off like a bad joke at the Ay show. Yet here we are, in the golden age of a new phenomena called detty December, where champagne rains harder than a July rainy season, and your village cousins have to book appointments just to visit you in Lekki or risk spending the day in the infinite Lagos traffic just to get to your house and realize you just left with your friends for Boho. Its not just a season anymore; its a lifestyle. And if you listen closely, you can hear the ghost of simpler Decembers past weeping softly in the background.

When did all this start?
Decembers were spent visiting countless family members in different parts of Lagos. Who remembers being able to go from Ajah to Surulere on a December afternoon and return home only three hours later cause it was only meant to be a short visit? Can’t remember the last time I spent a short time at a friend’s house after spending N30000 to get there. 
Once upon a time, December in Nigeria was about two things: family reunions and reckless overeating. Our December revolved around the things that truly mattered like jollof rice, chicken, and the occasional argument with uncles and aunties that always ended with“You don’t know anything. When I was your age…”. After this past December I’ve had Id give anything to be told ‘I don’t know anything’again..

The Bougie December
But somewhere along the line, we got infiltrated. This could be attributed to the globalization of Afrobeats and the global domination of social media and its influencers who’ve convinced us that if its not on‘the gram’, it didn’t happen. It seems this is the general culture of Nigeria now because Nigerians can turn any trend to a lifestyle. Suddenly, December isn’t just about showing up to the family compound in your best Ankara or a new Christmas dress. No, now you need a designer bag haul, a ticket to Burna boy’s concert, vlogs on your new canon G7X , and a bank account that could survive the collective assault of brunches, yacht parties, club hoping and curated repetitive beach parties.
The gentrification of Detty December began when Lagos transformed from a city of hustle to a playground for the elite. The once-innocent block parties of Surulere have now been replaced by rooftop soirées in Victoria Island, where entry fees are discussed in USD.
The Rise of the Diasporians
Then there are the diasporans, Descending upon Nigeria every December like migratory birds, with accents sharper than the actual accents of the countries they are coming from. They come armed with exaggerated stories of how they’ve missed home for the ones who are visiting for the first time since they were five or stories about how much they loved going for davido and wizkid concerts for the ones who only have distant family and friends here. Not to talk of those who have zero information about the country except that it has great weather, prices and locations compared to wherever they’re coming from.
They’d visit the local amala spot once for a photo-op, then spend the rest of their trip in Eko Atlantic, where the only thing Nigerian about the experience is the NEPA moment during soundcheck at the concert.
Local Flavor Meets Global Clout
From Livespot X Festival to Flytime Music Week, December in Nigeria has become the lovechild of Nigerian creativity and foreign-standard production. Detty December has put Nigeria on the global map, turning the country into the unofficial headquarters of December enjoyment. Suddenly, everyone from your cousin in Canada to that influencer in Dubai is booking flights for the experience.
This Detty December clout is doing wonders for us in many ways. now when we say, ‘ I’m Nigerian’ people don’t just think of Nollywood sound effects or email scams. Instead, they’re picturing epic concerts, bougie yacht parties, and the global domination of Afrobeats. Our vibes have become an export, and every selfie snapped at a Lagos rooftop party is free PR for the nation.
The Economy of Detty December
The gentrification of Detty December is a double-edged sword wrapped in glitter and garnished with suya pepper. On one hand, small businesses are cashing out like never before. Mama Nkechi’s buka now offers“artisan Eba”at quadruple the usual price, and vendors selling Ankara scrunchies are suddenly calling them “limited edition.” Its like Christmas came early for entrepreneurs. But on the other hand, the same gentrification has everyday Nigerians questioning their life choices as they pay N10,000 for shawarma at events where drinks are complimentary but come in cups smaller than sachet water.
Meanwhile, the general economy? Uber fares are surging, landlords are hiking rent for Detty December short lets, and we’ve essentially imported capitalism with a Lagos twist. Sure, the city is buzzing, but for most citizens, its the sound of their bank accounts crying softly into the void.
Finding a balance
With all its glamour, gentrified Detty December has stolen something sacred. It used to be a season where the pro bono energy was palpable. when your neighbor would gift you rice, or your uncle would hand you a wad of cash just because you won the cousin dance competition in the middle of the parlour. Now, you’re more likely to get a “Hello dear, hope you’re doing well” text from someone looking to split the cost of a table at Cubana.
I’m not saying we should all go back to dodging the “When will you marry?” aunties over and over at each family event. But maybe we can strike a balance. A December that combines the glamour of lifestyle with the warmth of home. A December where we support local vendors without needing to remortgage our lives. Because at its heart, Detty December isn’t about the imported champagne or overpriced tickets. Its about the joy of being Nigerian, the chaos, the color, and the camaraderie. And if we lose that, no amount of rooftop parties or VIP passes can bring it back.