By Ebow Hagan
In a sad turn of events, Nigeria, the giant of Africa, has upstaged Ghana in the race for the soul of December-January festivities, known in Gen. Z circles as “Detty December”.
The two powerful West African nations have been at daggers drawn as each seeks to claim the originator of the hugely popular cultural phenomenon.
In 2019, Ghana launched the “Year of Return”, marking the 400th anniversary of the arrival of enslaved Africans in North America.
In a quick sequel, the government unveiled “Beyond The Return” to safeguard the gains made from the “Year of Return” and to reinforce Ghana’s exclusive position as the number one African country for an unforgettable Christmas and New Year experience.
Since the inception of the initiatives by the erstwhile NPP administration, Ghana has been regarded as the new Mecca for diasporans worldwide.
The December-January extravaganza had thus become a tourist magnet for diasporans seeking to reconnect with the motherland and discover their roots.
But all of these now look like a distant and perhaps forgotten achievement as Nigeria has supplanted Ghana as the bona fide home for the season of parties, concerts, and so much more.
Truth be told, Nigeria gained the upper hand in this ‘rave race’ not just through deliberate action, but the general apathy shown by Ghanaian officialdom towards the “December in Gh” festivities also played a hand.
Now the country stands to lose an estimated $4.8 billion in tourism receipts which it earned in 2024, according to the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA).
History of “Detty December”
The term “Detty December” is the streetwise version of the “December in Gh” brand that was born to project Ghana as the ideal home-away-from-home destination for the African diaspora.
By means of a carefully executed strategy, Ghana positioned itself as the hub of activities that take place on the continent during the yuletide.
Various credible sources, including CNN producer Lamide Akintobi, confirm that Nigerian afrobeat star, Mr Eazi, coined the phrase when promoting his concert in 2016.
The association of the term with “December in Gh” became the perfect boost for Ghana’s preparation for the Black Atlantic community and has been the fulcrum around which international figures troop to Ghana in droves to have a feel of the fever.
Some Hollywood stars who have made the trip to the small Western African nation to add spice to “Detty December” include Steve Harvey, Idris Elba, Marjorie Harvey, Nicole Ari Parker, Anthony Anderson, Michael Jai White, Rosario Dawson, and Diggy Simmons.
Jidenna of “Classic Man” fame, Cardi B, T.I., Ludacris, Rick Ross, Akon, Koffee, Conan O’Brien, Adrienne-Joi Johnson, Mike Hill, Luvvie Ajayi, Kofi Kingston (WWE), and Angel McCoughtry (WNBA).
With the influx of these global stars came heavily patronised international concerts like Afrochella/Afrofuture- the Ghanaian version of Coachella, Black Star Line Festival, among others.
Ghana’s loss; Nigeria’s gain
From January, 2025 when the NDC administration came into office, signals picked indicated strongly that “Detty December” was not a top culture and tourism priority for the government.
The posturing of top-level officials associated with Tourism, Culture and the Creative Arts has proven inimical to the smooth organisation of “Detty December”.
For instance, the Head of the Diaspora Secretariat at the Presidency, Kofi Okyere Darko (KOD) is on record to have expressed his aversion to the tag.
Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has also made it clear that the term “detty”, which is a stylisation of dirty, carries a negative connotation.
Critically, there have been challenges with the non-pre-approval visa on arrival from December 1 to January 15 instituted by the previous administration for visitors who want to experience Ghanaian culture.
The hitherto hassle-free exercise has been fraught with extreme difficulties, causing potential visitors to express their frustration with the process this year.
Sensing an opportunity to seize the initiative, the Nigerian government has ramped up its efforts to make the most of the season.
The Federal Government in Abuja, through the Ministry of Arts, Culture, & Creative Economy, approved a Presidential Task Force on “Detty December” in November 2025 to formalise and boost the country’s vibrant year-end tourism.
Some of the events planned in 2025 that they hope to bring in international figures include: the Palmwine Music Festival, Peak Detty Vibes, The Bonfire Experience with Victony, Juma Jux Live in Lagos, and the Foodie in Lagos Festival.
