Lagos Getting Set For "Detty December"

The hotels are booked, and final preparations for the festivals and concerts are underway, as Lagos prepares for “Detty December”, Nigeria’s end-of-year frenzy.

Nigerians and tourists alike, especially members of the country’s massive diaspora, descend on the megacity annually to visit family and friends and observe the holidays — and party.

Never mind the recent state of emergency declared by the government last month over mass kidnappings in the north and centre of the country, or the brutal inflation that has squeezed the country for two years: in Lagos, the anchor of southern Nigeria and the nation’s economic capital, the music will be bumping and the drinks flowing.

A cultural staple, it’s also a crucial cash cow, raking in millions of dollars for the tourism, restaurant, and hotel sectors.

“I’ll call it a cultural pilgrimage,” Deola Art Alade, an events organiser who, with her husband, trademarked the phrase “Detty December” in 2019 and put together an annual festival mixing concerts, food, and clubbing events.

“Detty”, in Nigerian Pidgin English, is derived from “dirty” — calling to mind the, at times, wild and non-stop festivities that arise as the city swells past its normal 20-million or so residents.

– Millions in revenue –

Amid the street parties and high-profile concerts, the government is trying to take advantage of the annual homecoming by partnering with the Art Alades’ festival.

“Together we are moving Detty December from a social trend to a structured national asset,” declared Culture Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa.

Last year, the Lagos state authorities estimated that the month’s various festivities brought in some $71.5 million in government revenue, including $44 million just from the hotel sector.

That sum was welcome amid the country’s biting economic crisis, which saw inflation topping 30 percent throughout 2024.

Buoyed by the end-of-year tradition’s growth, the government this year promoted a “101 Days in Lagos” culture and tourism initiative, which has seen the last three months filled with exhibitions, conventions and festivals leading up to a “Detty December” finale.

– ‘Africa’s real summer’ –

It’s “Africa’s real summer”, Deola Art Alade’s husband Darey told AFP, and there’s evidence its popularity is expanding internationally beyond the traditional diaspora.

“People are coming to see their families, they’re bringing their friends,” Darey said, describing a “Dirty December fever”.

“This year, we have a lot of Americans living in America, you know, Black Americans now looking at coming out here and paying for packages, just to have a different kind of experience,” Iyadunni Gbadebo, sales director for Eko Hotels & Suites, told AFP.

For the hotel — Lagos’s biggest, with some 825 rooms and nine restaurants and bars — December represents some 15 to 20 percent of annual revenues.

People start booking rooms as early as July, and the hotel fills up by November.

As expected in Lagos, awash in both oil wealth and informal slums, the prices can be eye-watering: weekly packages for a family of four can range between eight and 13 million naira — $5,500 to $9,000, depending on the room.

But the ultimate holiday gift each year is the concert line-up, with globe-trotting Afrobeats stars as keen as their countrymen to take part in the homecoming.

This year, Asake and Davido are set to perform on Christmas Eve and Christmas, respectively.

Tickets are about four times the monthly minimum wage of 70,000 naira ($50).

 

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With Cabaret, Lagos Nightlife Defies Economic Downturn

Nigeria might be going through its worst economic crisis in a generation, but in Lagos, the party hasn’t stopped.

Patrons at The Library, where fake banknotes rained down on the stage, were being treated to both dinner and a show as cabaret takes the mega-city by storm.

Clubs like The Library have been fully revamped to cash in on the trend, tapping into the best singers and dancers across the African cultural powerhouse, but also drawing talent from across the world.

Co-owner Wemo Edudu transformed the book-themed nightclub into a fine dining establishment two years ago, hoping to bring in a wider clientele but without sacrificing the late-night rambunctiousness and spectacle that Lagos, a city of around 20 million people, is known for.

“Sometimes I see a 65-year-old man having a nice meal, watching the show. I knew that that could have never happened two years ago,” Edudu told AFP.

– Ritz and glam –

Cabaret in its modern form traces its roots to 19th century France, but it has exploded in recent years across the ritzier parts of Lagos, Nigeria’s cultural and economic capital.

Rococo restaurant, on the upscale Victoria Island, sports a French influence of an earlier era: crystal chandeliers, baroque frescoes, and projections of Napoleon and his wife Marie-Louise, animated so they can rap along to the music.

The opulence extends to the menu: for those not swayed by the high-end Nigerian or Western dishes, there’s gold-flake covered foie gras, crocodile carpaccio or prawns thermidor.

“The show progresses as you move,” said Rococo boss Ghada Ghaith, describing patrons warming up with dinner and conversation until “a song attracts you or a show attracts you”.

Even amid the French throwbacks and modern excess, this is still Nigeria: a deeply religious country, where singers are often recruited from the churches where they originally honed their pipes.

The gold-plated menu meanwhile can cost multiples of the monthly minimum wage in a nation where inequality and poverty live side-by-side with massive oil wealth.

Two kilometres away, nightlife haunt Zaza sells the “Birkintini”, billed as “Africa’s most expensive cocktail”, for $20,000.

It comes with a Hermes Birkin handbag.

There’s enough of a party to go around to recruit international acts, like Blanka Munkacsi, a 21-year-old Hungarian acrobat.

– International talent –

“I’ve never seen this before,” the performer told AFP. “It’s like everything but in one place, and it’s really beautiful.”

“We have a night club, we have a show place, we have a restaurant, but it’s not really common to get those together” in Hungary, she said.

For Bobby Francis, creative director at Zaza, the goal is direct: “We literally try to bring Vegas to Nigeria!”

Zaza has been a Lagos nightlife staple for years, its tropical motif capped by wallpaper with fluorescent parrots and butterflies, and an army of waiters clad in zebra and leopard prints.

Bottle service orders prompt the usual parade of hostesses with glow sticks — and a server dressed as a giraffe.

“The idea of cabaret is really like to keep things alive from the moment you enter the room till you leave,” said Johnny Frangeh, the 24-year-old assistant general manager.

“Just like any other nightclub, people just go and drink and dance. And so here it’s another experience.”

– Growing pains –

But in a city known for its late-night clubbing, the shift to other kinds of entertainment can be difficult.

“They’re more into the party life” than arts, Rodrigo Adame, a circus performer from Mexico, said of some Lagosians.

“As an artist, sometimes you realise they’re not looking. It’s hard to get their attention.”

And one thing the original 19th century French cabaret performers didn’t have to compete with?

“The phones,” said the 45-year-old. “Everybody is living now through the cell phones.”

On a recent night at Zaza, which can hold around 700 patrons, there were probably just as many screens flashing through the darkened room.

But the booming music, while not great for conversation, did provide a nice background for taking repeated selfies.

 

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Interswitch Empowers Hospitality Industry With Tech Solutions

Interswitch empowers hospitality industry with tech solutions

Interswitch, a leading African technology company, has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming the continent’s hospitality sector through technology during its participation as an exhibitor at the Hotel Managers Conference Africa 2025, held recently in Lagos.

The two-day conference brought together stakeholders across the hospitality industry to explore new pathways for sustainable growth through technology, strategic partnerships, and global best practices. Interswitch’s participation spotlighted its comprehensive portfolio of payment solutions tailored to the evolving needs of hospitality businesses.

The company, in a statement on Sunday, said it showcased its Interswitch Smart POS, a high-speed, multifunctional terminal with innovative features relevant in the hospitality sector. In addition to Verve Cards, it boasts of international card acceptance from Visa, Mastercard, American Express, China UnionPay, Discover, Diners Club, and Japan Credit Bureau.

It also offers USD settlement for foreign transactions, allowing hotels to cater to international guests with ease. Additionally, the Smart POS includes a card-not-present feature, enabling secure remote payments for use cases such as pre-arrival deposits and incidental charges.

Also featured was the Interswitch Payment Gateway, which enables hotels to accept online bookings securely and process payments from major international card schemes such as American Express, Mastercard, and Visa cards. The gateway is designed for effortless integration with existing systems and provides USD settlement capabilities for international transactions, helping hospitality operators serve a broader customer base without complexity.

Interswitch also demonstrated its trusted bulk disbursement platform that simplifies payments to vendors, staff, and service providers, ensuring timely and efficient transactions with minimal manual input.

The Interswitch booth attracted significant interest from key decision-makers and hospitality business owners, many of whom expressed interest in adopting the company’s integrated solutions to streamline their operational efficiency and elevate guest experience.

Commenting on the engagement, Vice President, Sales and Account Management, Interswitch,  Osasere Atohengbe, stated, “Our participation at HMC 2025 reinforces our mission to be a technology partner for hospitality businesses. We’re not just providing tools, we’re enabling transformation, and it was rewarding to connect directly with operators who are ready to take the next leap.”

With thousands of businesses across sectors relying on Interswitch’s trusted infrastructure, including industry leaders like Eko Hotels, Marriott Hotel, and The George Hotel, the company continues to lead innovation in digital payment solutions tailored for African markets.

Its engagement at the Hotel Managers Conference 2025 represents another key step in strengthening ties with the hospitality sector, while advancing its broader mission of inclusive growth through strategic partnerships and merchant-focused solutions.

 

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LASTMA Seals Nightclub Over Persistent Traffic Violations

The Lagos State Government, through the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), has sealed Vaniti Club House on Adeola Odeku Street,

Victoria Island, over repeated violations of the state’s traffic regulations.

The enforcement action, led by LASTMA General Manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki, was carried out by the agency’s Rescue and Compliance Unit, following what authorities

described as the club’s “habitual and deliberate infringement” of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018.

The club was accused of facilitating illegal roadside parking and encroaching upon public highways, actions which have severely disrupted vehicular movement

and endangered public safety.

Bakare-Oki stated, “Despite extensive sensitization efforts—including public enlightenment campaigns, stakeholder engagements, and multiple warnings—the

management of Vaniti Club House has continued to violate traffic laws and undermine the operational integrity of the state’s traffic system.”

He added that the sealing of the club is indefinite and will remain in place until its management fully complies with all existing traffic laws and regulations.

This move comes on the heels of a public warning issued by LASTMA at the weekend, cautioning owners and operators of event centres, nightclubs, and lounges

to stop obstructing traffic or face severe consequences.

Citing the Transport Sector Reform Law, Bakare-Oki emphasized that any obstruction to free movement or activities that jeopardize the safety of road users

are considered serious offences under Lagos law and attract strict penalties.

“This enforcement action is not a one-off. It marks the beginning of a broader and sustained compliance campaign,” he said, noting that the agency is monitoring

other nightlife venues and recreational facilities, especially those located in high-traffic areas like Victoria Island.

The state government reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy toward individuals, organizations, or businesses that compromise public order and road safety.

LASTMA urged Lagos residents to report traffic-obstructing venues via its toll-free hotline: 0800-00-LASMA (080000527862).

Bakare-Oki concluded, “The Lagos State Government is committed to fostering a safe, disciplined, and efficiently regulated traffic environment as part

of its vision for a world-class, livable urban landscape.”

He also reiterated LASTMA’s collaboration with security agencies and regulatory bodies to sustain the enforcement drive across the state, regardless of

social or commercial influence.

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