We’re currently in the month of November and almost every Nigerian already knows what comes next. Hint: it rhymes with Metty Mecember. Okay, it’s actually Detty December, every outgoing Nigerian’s favourite time of the year, because it comes with a lot of fun events and shenanigans. But with the coronavirus still very present coupled with the sobering effect of the recent EndSARS protests in Nigeria, is Detty December is canceled for 2020?

The term “Detty December” was originally coined a couple of years ago by Banku music pioneer and Afropop star, Mr Eazi. It is a month-long carefree, problem-free, hedonistic lifestyle that engulfs most cities in Nigeria and is always something to look forward to.

The first time I experienced Detty December was in 2017, where I got to attend concerts in Lagos that featured headline performances from Wizkid, Davido, Falz, and other established and upcoming acts and that experience is definitely one I’d love to repeat.

Lagos is beautiful but always on a standstill during this period. It is busy and packed with people and features lots of events organized by several promotional companies, and also sees artists and comedians organize an end of year concerts for their fans. Day after day, all through the month, there is usually one, two, or three events to attend.

The Detty December period is also when Nigerians in the diaspora popularly known as IJGBs (I Just Got Back) and foreigners get to come to Nigeria and experience the culture and lifestyle of Nigerian entertainment and cuisine. Foreign artists are usually also present in the country during this period. Last year’s various Detty December activities featured performances from Cardi B, Stefflon Don, Megan Thee Stallion, Megan Thee Stallion, Koffee, Ms Banks, Ma$e, and Boyz II Men.

2020 has been a great year for Nigerian Music and if it were any other year, musical artistes from the likes of Davido, Wizkid, Burna Boy, and Adekunle Gold would be having an end of year concert for fans, the date and time for their concerts would have been announced, and promotion plans would have already kick-started. Even rising acts like Omah Lay, JoeBoy, FireBoy, Rema, etc. should be riding the waves of their various releases this year and hopping from event to event, performing to their heart’s content.

Nigerians love to party, but for there to be a Detty December, we have to be in a festive mood. However, that is currently not the case. We are still dealing with the coronavirus pandemic plus the recent events in the country from the massacre of the Lekki tollgate protesters and various other injustices meted out by the government and its agencies during the EndSARS protests, to the arrest and prosecution of protesters whose only “crime” was demanding better governance and an end to the harassment and killings from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Nigerian Police Force. All of this coupled with the massive increase in the price of commodities and the general state of the Nigerian economy today makes the prospect of Detty December this year seem pretty bleak.

It remains to be seen if the jaiye jaiye spirit of Nigerians will eventually rise above the present mood across the Nation to deliver another legendary Detty December outing, or if December this year will end up being more clean than detty.

In your opinion, is Detty December cancelled?