How Detty December Fest 2025 redefined the Lagos skyline & reclaimed a cultural legacy — Terh Agbedeh

Lagos has always been a city of high-octane energy, but in December 2025, that energy found a structured and spectacular home.

As the final pyrotechnics faded over the Ilubirin waterfront on the night of December 29, it wasn’t just a festival that was ending, it was the dawn of a new era for African entertainment.

The Detty December Fest 2025, a month-long odyssey of music, art and fashion, has officially transitioned from a colloquial slang term into a formidable national asset and a global tourism magnet.

For years, “Detty December” was a loosely defined period of chaotic fun, a collection of disparate parties and spontaneous concerts that drew the diaspora back to Nigeria’s shores. However, 2025 saw a seismic shift.

Under the creative stewardship of Livespot360, led by Deola and Darey Art Alade, the concept was institutionalised. By securing the legal trademark for “Detty December” and partnering with the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, the organisers transformed a seasonal mood into a world-class festival infrastructure.

The festival’s ambitious scale was evident from the very first night on December 7. While most concerts in the city began with a DJ set, Detty December Fest opted for the theatrical. Attendees at the Ilubirin Mixed Use Development were greeted by “Zenit Aerial Ballerinas,” suspended mid-air against the Lagos night sky, their fluid motions mirrored by the ripples of the lagoon.

The opening night, dubbed “A Cinematic Live Experience,” set a sophisticated tone. It wasn’t just about the music; it was about the spectacle. A 40-man choir delivered a soul-stirring medley of Afrobeats classics, bridging the gap between the genre’s nostalgic roots and its modern global dominance. When homegrown heavyweights like Wande Coal, Young Jonn and Ice Prince took the stage, they weren’t just performing hits; they were part of a carefully curated narrative of Nigerian excellence.

The festival’s mid-season highlight was undoubtedly the return of American hip-hop icon Busta Rhymes. Performing in Lagos for the first time in 15 years, Busta Rhymes delivered a set that was as much a cultural homecoming as it was a concert. Accompanied by his long-time hype man Spliff Star, the “Touch It” rapper commanded the Ilubirin stage with a ferocity that defied his decades in the game.

“Even though it took 15 years, we are home,” Busta told the roaring crowd in an emotional pause midway through his set. “This trip was special to me because it wasn’t just about a show.” His presence, alongside contemporary rap titan Gunna-who headlined the grand finale on December 29-underscored the festival’s ability to attract top-tier international talent to West Africa.

Gunna’s performance, marked by his signature melodic flow and “drip,” proved that Lagos is now a mandatory stop on the global touring circuit.

While the international stars drew global headlines, the heartbeat of the festival remained intensely local. Wizkid, the undisputed “Starboy,” and Tiwa Savage, the “Queen of Afrobeats,” delivered performances that reaffirmed their status as the vanguard of the movement.

The lineup was a masterclass in diversity, featuring the lyrical precision of M.I. Abaga and Phyno, the soulful resonance of Fave and Qing Madi, and the pan-African appeal of Diamond Platnumz and Juma Jux.

Bella Shmurda, a standout from the “first wave” of announced artistes, delivered a high-energy set on December 13 that encapsulated the raw, street-hop energy of Lagos. The inclusion of East African stars like Juma Jux furthered the festival’s mission to be a “Pan-African” celebration, moving beyond the borders of Nigeria to embrace the entire continent’s creative output.

Beyond the stage, Detty December Fest 2025 functioned as a holistic cultural village. Spread across two primary locations-the scenic Ilubirin waterfront in Ikoyi and the Livespot Entertarium on Oba Elegushi Beach Road-the festival featured culinary pop-ups, fashion showcases and art installations.

The partnership with the Federal Ministry of Art and Culture, led by Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa, provided a layer of national significance. Minister Musawa described the festival as a “defining contributor” to the country’s cultural ecosystem. In a strategic move to boost holiday tourism, the government integrated the festival into a wider national calendar, including the inaugural Nigerian Foods and Culture Festival. This formal endorsement signals a shift in how Nigeria views its creative industry-not just as entertainment, but as vital economic infrastructure.

The success of the 2025 edition testifies to the vision of Livespot360. Having previously produced groundbreaking events like “Love Like a Movie” and brought Cardi B to Nigeria, the duo of Deola and Darey Art Alade have spent years building the technical and creative capacity to host events of this magnitude.

“This year showed that the appetite for Detty December Fest is real,” said Deola Art Alade, Founder and Group CEO of Livespot360. “Ilubirin proved Lagos is ready for a world-class December experience, and this is only the beginning.”

Her partner, Darey Art Alade, added: “We set out to create a festival that feels true to Lagos. One that is fresh and exciting. The response from the artistes and fans tells us we got it right.”

The impact of the festival extended far beyond the ticket gates. From the hospitality sector to local artisans and small-scale vendors, the “Detty December” economy was in full swing. International flights to Lagos arrived at near-full capacity throughout the month, with the diaspora returning not just to visit family, but to participate in what has been branded “Africa’s Real Summer.”

By consolidating the season’s energy under a unified, high-production brand, Detty December Fest has solved one of the city’s perennial problems: the lack of a central, reliable event schedule for holidaymakers.

As Lagos transitions into the new year, the echoes of Detty December Fest 2025 remain. The festival has set a new benchmark for live entertainment in Africa, proving that with the right blend of private sector creativity and government support, Nigeria can host the world.

It was a month where the world watched Lagos, and Lagos, in turn, showed the world how to celebrate. The “Detty December” trademark may be on paper, but the experience was written in the memories of the thousands who danced under the Lagos stars, proving once and for all that when it comes to culture, there is no place like home.

•Photo credit: @theseyekehinde