Nigerian singer and entrepreneur Mr Eazi has claimed that he coined the popular phrase “Detty December,” a slang that has since become synonymous with end-of-year festivities, parties and concerts in Nigeria.
The singer made the revelation while speaking at his Detty Rave concert in Accra, Ghana, where he recounted how the phrase originated during his early days as a show promoter.
According to Mr Eazi, the idea came up in 2016 while he and his friends were organizing a December event in Ghana. He said he suggested naming the event “Detty December,” a term that later grew beyond their expectations and became a cultural phenomenon.
“While working as a show promoter with my friends, I suggested that we call our December event ‘Detty December.’ Hashtag Detty December.
So in 2016, me and my guys invented Detty December. And Detty December is all about going back to your roots, having fun and enjoying life intentionally,” he said.
Despite laying claim to the origin of the phrase, the singer was quick to note that Detty December now belongs to everyone and is bigger than any individual.
“Detty December is bigger than Mr Eazi. It’s bigger than anybody. Detty December is for all of us,” he added.
Mr Eazi’s comments come amid renewed conversations around the ownership of the phrase. In 2019, Nigerian entrepreneur Deola Art Alade, wife of musician Darey Art Alade, stirred controversy after securing a legal trademark for Detty December.
