Nigeria marks Detty December amid economic woes

DW (English)

In Nigeria, a month of parties, festivals and concerts known as Detty December is underway. But high inflation and soaring costs are taking their toll on many. Can Nigerians still afford to party hard? DW's Olisa Chukwumah went to Lagos to find out.

Transcript

00:00Welcome to Dirty December in Nigeria's famous party city, Lagos.

00:12It's holiday season, the weather is fine and many young people are in a festive mood.

00:18Dirty comes from the word dirty and means no holds barred.

00:22This year, Nigeria's economic problems has forced many to cut back,

00:26but they are still out to celebrate.

00:30So how do you do dirty this year without breaking the bank?

01:00This is the time of year when US-based musician Titi Adimokun

01:18visits the country to spend time with friends and family.

01:21She's one of many people from the Nigerian diaspora

01:25renewing their ties during the festive season.

01:27The foreign currency they bring means they can afford to have it large,

01:31but Titi says that this year might be a little different for her.

01:35This is not my first Dirty December, so I feel like for the newbies,

01:39I need to give them space to go all out.

01:41Me, small, small, small, party here and there, but I'm tired,

01:45so I have to get my sleep in between.

01:49So I won't go full out, maybe 25%.

01:53She knows about the high cost of living affecting her friends and family,

01:58but Titi says that the festive season could offer some relief

02:02and a boost for local businesses.

02:05Inflation is bad, global inflation is bad,

02:08but I also feel like that's why Dirty December goes so hard,

02:13because it's a time for people to kind of forget

02:16all the problems throughout the year that they have been through

02:19and just let loose and just live their life, honestly.

02:23The people coming back home, they bringing money, they spending money,

02:26they adding more money to the economy during this month.

02:29So it's not just the ones coming, it's for the ones here too,

02:32because now they charging us double than what they charged last month.

02:36So they're still making money because of the people coming in town.

02:41Young people make up the majority of Nigeria's population.

02:44It's been a tough year for many, and they are hoping next year will be better.

02:49But for now, they just want to party.

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