You know the type. Loud events. Celebrity lineups. Endless parties. Traffic that tests your patience.

So when we heard about Techmas Village in Lekki Phase 1, we weren’t expecting it to compete with the chaos that is Detty December.

Over two weeks, nearly 4,000 people visited Techmas Village by Enzo. Families, tourists, and fun seekers looking for different things to do in Lagos in December.

At first glance, it was all about tech. Virtual reality arenas. Augmented challenges. Competitive games.

But the real story wasn’t the gadgets, it was the parents getting unexpectedly competitive during Family-vs-Family games. The teenagers forgetting their phones. The laughter when someone failed spectacularly in VR.

From December 25th through early January, the space felt less like an event and more like a community square.

For visitors searching for family activities in Lagos during the festive season, Techmas Village offered something refreshingly participatory.

Powered by NSIA Insurance, it didn’t try to outshine the city. It just gave people a place to gather.

And with a larger Lekki Phase 1 space on the way, this Christmas experience in Lagos might quietly become a year-round staple.

Not every Detty December memory needs a headline act.

Sometimes it just needs somewhere to belong.

Curious about what comes next, Enzo Reality continues to host immersive experiences and community-driven events in Lekki Phase 1. 

Details on upcoming activities can be found at , with regular updates shared across , , , and .Ìę

Visitors can also reach out directly via WhatsApp or find directions easily on Google Maps to plan their next visit.

A familiar shade of purple appeared again and again, in comment sections, on timelines, in short videos shared with excitement. PalmPay’s Purple December 2025 did not announce itself loudly. It simply arrived, slipped neatly into the festive mood, and stayed there, week after week, until it felt almost inevitable.

What began on December 1 as an invitation to celebrate the end of the year soon grew into something more layered. Not just a campaign, but a shared experience – one many Nigerians leaned into as the year wound down. As this year’s edition wraps, it is worth pausing to look at the moments that turned Purple December from a series of giveaways into something closer to a December tradition.

The signs were subtle at first. A teaser here. A question there. Enough to spark curiosity. By the time the first week officially opened, it was clear PalmPay had returned with something familiar, yet freshly imagined. Across platforms, participation came easily. Tasks were simple, entry points open, and almost immediately, engagement developed its own rhythm. Winners were announced, prizes revealed, but what lingered was the sense that something communal had begun. This was not only about phones or airtime. It felt like people gathering digitally to mark the end of another demanding year.

Week two brought a shift in tone. This was when people stopped merely participating and started sharing. Users opened up about discipline learned, habits broken, and quiet victories earned over time. Stories about learning to save, to plan, to pause before spending. Among them was Aremu Blessing Nwakego, who spoke simply about saving towards a bag of rice and a live goat for Christmas. It resonated because it was ordinary – and December, for many Nigerians, is exactly that: food on the table, family around, the dignity of showing up prepared. That week served as a reminder that behind every app interaction is a person, and behind every savings goal is a reason.

As the weeks rolled on, something else became clear. Every winner announcement was met with genuine celebration. Comment sections filled with congratulations, often from strangers who had nothing to gain except shared joy. The prize itself became secondary. A win was a win, and it was shared. Purple December began to feel less like a contest and more like a collective moment, where joy travelled freely across timelines, unforced and unguarded.

By the third week, the conversation shifted again. Users were asked to reflect on PalmPay’s global recognitions and share which ones mattered most to them. What followed were lively exchanges across platforms – debates, polls, and opinions shared with enthusiasm. It was a moment when users spoke not as customers, but as advocates. When winners like iam_rachyluv, Jeffter_chigozie, Call_me_vanora, and Hannah Samuel emerged, it felt fitting. That week was less about prizes and more about pride – about using a product you trust and feeling affirmed when it earns recognition beyond your borders.

By the final week, Purple December had fully settled into the season. The closing challenge invited users to tell their stories on video, and they responded with honesty and creativity. People spoke about savings goals reached, budgets rescued, and features that quietly supported them throughout the year. The videos were not polished, and they did not need to be. They felt real. The campaign closed with wins that matched the mood. Happiness Nosike walked away with an iPhone 15 Pro, while others like Chy_de_great, Mo_koredey6, and Adamsodera rounded off the celebration with rewards of their own. It was an ending that felt earned.

Looking back now, Purple December 2025 feels less like a one-off and more like something expected, a familiar December presence. A time when people gather online to reflect, celebrate, and perhaps win something along the way. With this year’s edition officially wrapped, what remains is not just the memory of prizes won, but the sense of connection built across four weeks. And as Nigerians step into a new year, carrying their plans, savings goals, and everyday transactions forward, the purple lingers quietly in the background – a reminder that sometimes, the most effective campaigns are often the ones that feel naturally at home.

Deji*, 32, came back to Lagos from Canada for Detty December expecting nothing more than good music, old friends and a good time. However, when a road trip with a close friend ended in an unexpected expense and an awkward fallout, he found himself questioning the line between generosity and entitlement.

When you’re done reading, you get to decide: did he fuck up, or not?

This is Deji’s Dilemma, as shared with Adeyinka

I came back to Lagos for Detty December expecting a good time. I wanted to rest, enjoy myself and reconnect with people I hadn’t seen in a long time. I didn’t plan for anything stressful; I just wanted the trip to feel easy.

Tade* is one of my closest friends. We’ve known each other for years, and I’ve always seen him as someone I can move with without overthinking. Since I landed, we’ve been hanging out almost every day. We’ve gone for raves, two concerts and have a few more shows lined up. From the beginning, we agreed to split bills. Everyone paid their way, and it never felt like an issue. That was why I didn’t expect a road trip to Ibadan to change the dynamic between us.

I had a wedding to attend in Ibadan and didn’t want to go alone. More than that, I needed someone to drive. I don’t have a car in Lagos, and I wasn’t keen on navigating a December road trip with a random driver. Tade was the obvious choice.

When I asked him, he wasn’t enthusiastic. He talked about the long drive, traffic and stress. I understood his hesitation, so I didn’t push. Eventually, he agreed, but only on the condition that I would fuel his car to Ibadan and back. I was surprised by the request, but I didn’t argue. I agreed and told myself it wasn’t worth turning into a back-and-forth.

The trip to Ibadan went smoothly. The wedding was nice, we ate well and joked through most of it. I was genuinely glad I didn’t travel alone. On our way back to Lagos, the car started acting up somewhere along the road. We pulled over, called a mechanic, and after checking it, he said we needed to fix it immediately if we wanted to continue our trip. The cost was a bit over ₩100,000.

Before I fully processed what he’d said, Tade turned to me and asked me to pay for it. I was taken aback. 

In my head, a lot of things were happening at once. I’d already paid for fuel both ways. I’d covered feeding during the trip. Beyond this particular outing, I’d also brought him clothes from Canada, two pairs of sneakers and a designer perfume. I didn’t bring those things as leverage, and I hadn’t thought of them as something to count, but they were very present in my mind in that moment.

I told him I couldn’t pay for the repairs. It was his car. We had agreed on fuel, not maintenance or repairs. If something had happened to my phone or my luggage during the trip, I wouldn’t have expected him to pay for it. I felt like I had already held up my end of what we discussed.

Tade didn’t argue with me or raise his voice. He paid for the repairs himself and got back into the car. From that point on, his mood changed completely.

The rest of the journey to Lagos felt uncomfortable. He barely spoke. When I tried to make conversation, his responses were short and flat. By the time we got back, it was obvious something had shifted between us. Since then, he’s been distant.

He still replies to messages, but there’s a noticeable change. He takes longer to respond and doesn’t initiate plans the way he did before. We had already talked about more Detty December outings, but now I’m not sure if he’ll show up or not.

From my perspective, I didn’t abandon him or leave him stranded. I paid for fuel as agreed. I covered food. I showed up as a friend in ways that weren’t transactional. I didn’t start listing those things to him because I didn’t want to sound petty, but I can’t pretend they don’t exist.

At the same time, I keep wondering if I missed something obvious. Perhaps from his perspective, it felt like I had used his car and time, and then refused to step up when things went wrong. Or maybe he assumed that, since I was visiting from abroad, unexpected expenses would naturally fall on me.

If he had said from the start that I would be responsible for any damage to the car, I would have thought more carefully about taking the trip. I might have still agreed, or I might have made a different plan. What unsettled me was the assumption that I should automatically take on that cost.

Now I find myself replaying everything. Should I have just paid and moved on, especially since money wasn’t much of an issue? Or was I right to draw a line and refuse responsibility for something we never discussed?

What makes this harder is that I value our friendship. Detty December is meant to be chill, but I’ve spent part of it navigating guilt. I don’t want this to be the incident that ruins our relationship. At the same time, I don’t want to apologise for something I don’t fully believe was wrong.

I’ve been present and generous. And yet, here I am, questioning myself.

 *Names have been changed to protect the identity of the subjects.

Take this test:

Which is an ingredient of Detty December's signature meal in Nigeria?

Garri

Bay Leaf

Boiled eggs

Palm oil

Which animal is the star of every Nigerian Christmas table?

Goat

Pig

Chicken

Cow

In Nigeria, what you wear on Christmas Day is called:

Ready-made

Christmas cloth

Aso-ebi

Matching pyjamas

We have an intruder here:

Fireworks

Gun

Banger

Sparklers

Onwa December is synonymous to ______?

North-East Nigeria

South-East Nigeria

Middlebelt Nigeria

South-West Nigeria

What's it called when people wear same Christmas pyjamas for photos?

Matching PJs

Andco

Aso-ebi

Twinning

The following are popular Nigerian festive period songs, except:

"This Year (Odun Yi)" by Jaywon

"Odun Lo Sopin" by CAC Good Women Choir

"Onwa December (Everybody Gyrate)" by Tony One Week

"Kese (Dance)" by Wizkid

What’s the most Nigerian thing about Father Christmas?

He arrives on an okada, not a sleigh

He has toys under the tree

He only comes for children

He delivers gifts on time

Which artist coined the term "Detty December"?

Skepta

Mr Eazi

Wizkid

Darey Art Alade

What’s the main activity in Detty December?

Avoiding office work

Partying nonstop

Cooking meals

Praying without ceasing

_______ is a fading festive tradition.

Street carnival

Christmas trees

Matching PJs

Crossover services

People coming back to Nigeria for Detty December are often called?

ITKs

IJGBs

JJCs

FFOs

You got #{score}/#{total}

Omo, you don’t just know December, you’re running the calendar.

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Retry

You got #{score}/#{total}

Not bad o, but I see some December confusion. Come back next December, if you level up. Enjoy your holiday sha.

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Retry

You got #{score}/#{total}

You're completely clueless. It's clear, December has been passing you by. You need to start living.

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Retry

The Detty December Fest is officially kicking off the countdown to its 2025 celebration in Lagos, Nigeria, with the highly anticipated announcement of its first wave of global headliners.

African and International Stars Set the Stage

Solidifying its position as a cultural powerhouse, the festival has secured an incredible roster featuring both international hip-hop giants and leading African talents. The entire month-long event, running from December 7th to 31st, will be hosted at Ilubirin, Ikoyi, Bourdillion Road and the Livespot Entertarium, Oba Elegushi Beach Road, Lekki, Lagos. Detty December Fest is ready to provide an unforgettable open-air coastal setting for the performances.

Fans can look forward to seeing multi-platinum selling American rapper, Busta Rhymes, a Hip-Hop icon, Bella Shmurda, Nigerian street-pop sensation, Juma Jux, Bongo Flava star from Tanzania.

Performance & Programming Schedule (First Wave):

Sat, Dec 6 — Grand Opening Concert (Aerial Show) []

Sun, Dec 7 — Grand Opening Show: A Cinematic Live Experience []

Sun, Dec 14 — Club X: The Beat Never Sleeps []

Thu, Dec 18 — Juma Jux Live in Concert []

Fri, Dec 19 — Busta Rhymes Live in Concert []

Sat, Dec 20 — Christmas Like a Movie (Variety Show) []

Sun, Dec 21 — Detty December Fest: One Night. Infinite Energy. [Ticket TBC]

Sun, Dec 28 — Gunna Live in Concert. []

Tue, Dec 30 — Last Call For
 The Ultimate Detty December Rave [Ticket TBC]

(Additional artists, surprise guests, and programming will be announced soon.)

Exclusive Government Endorsement

Adding significant weight to the event’s stature, the press release included an exclusive message from Minister Hannatu Musawa, the Minister of Art, Culture & the Creative Economy. Minister Musawa officially endorsed the festival, positioning it as a key strategic national platform

About the Minister’s Message

Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa’s video message recognises Detty December Fest as a defining contributor to Nigeria’s cultural ecosystem, spotlighting its role in strengthening Nigeria’s global creative presence and attracting holiday tourism.

But you still have to prepare for January’s 81 days of sapa, and that’s where these budgeting hacks come in.

“Have a separate expenses account” — Jade*, 26

I do this thing where I transfer the amount of money I can afford to spend per month in a separate spending account. After that, I freeze the bank app that contains my remaining funds, so I don’t take extra money when I finish my spending money. 

Sometimes, I even give my friend my ATM card to hide it so I’m not tempted. This hack has helped a lot this month. I’ve spent about half of my spending money. When it’s exhausted, I’ll continue my December enjoyment inside my house. 

“Go out with friends to split bills” — Nonye, 22

I made a list of all the fun places I want to try this month and shared it with my friend group so we can select the places we can visit and share the bills. 

For instance, we visited a Chinese restaurant on Christmas Eve, and after sharing the bill, my share only came to ₩25k. I’d have spent like ₩40k if I’d gone alone. Plus, I got to share out of everyone’s meals instead of spending so much on one meal without variety. We also split cab fares, and I paid only ₩7k instead of the ₩32k the cab charged.

“Jump danfo bus if need be” — Emma*, 26

Cab prices have been so high this period, so I’ve returned to my danfo roots. Imagine I spent only ₩1500 using danfo for a destination that a cab charged ₩27k for. It didn’t stop me from turning up when I arrived. So, take that danfo today. The means of transportation doesn’t matter, as long as you get there and have a good time.

“Consider activities that don’t involve spending money” — Kola*, 25

My partner and I are working with a strict budget this December, but it doesn’t mean we won’t have a good time. We intend to visit parks and take home-cooked food to turn ordinary outings into picnics. 

We also had an indoor movie night on Christmas Day. I moved the chairs, spread blankets on the floor, and made popcorn and fried chicken. The whole thing was free, but we created memories. Don’t let anyone pressure you to overspend this season. 

“Just improvise” — Ope, 27

I can’t afford to attend concerts this year because of extremely high ticket prices and transportation costs. So, I’m improvising. To usher in the holidays, I found a mad DJ mix on YouTube and blasted it all day at home. My neighbours even joined in, and it became like a mini house party. I plan to do the same thing on New Year’s Eve. Concert or no concert, I’m having a fantastic time.

*Some names have been changed for anonymity.

NEXT READ: 7 Nigerian Millennials Share Hacks for Living Through Inflation

See below 12 things Chloe Bailey should try during this trip to Nigeria:

Take Danfo bus

The first thing she must do is take a Danfo bus to one of her events. This way, no one will ever doubt that she was indeed in Lagos. You know how people forget the things that they did on a trip? If she takes a Danfo to her event, she will never be part of that set of people.

Attend an Owanbe

We definitely suggest Chloe Bailey attend an Owanbe. Let her party in Aso-ebi, dance to King Sunny-Ade, and see food pass her face.

Try amala and ewedu

Since she is in Lagos, she should also try Amala and Ewedu. We recommend Amala Skye.

Try roadside rice and beans

The roadside rice and beans will definitely slap as a welcome-to-Lagos meal for Chloe Bailey.

Try suya

Street suya is a must for Chloe Bailey and her entourage from abroad, who want to show that they really came to Nigeria for Detty December.

Feature Portable in a song

To give her that oomph, a feature with Portable, Skepta style, will also bang this Detty December.

Do Mother Christmas

We also suggest that Chloe do some Mother Christmas. Let her feed the people with rice and groundnut oil, the gold of this T-Pain years.

Hold a masterclass on wearing shoes on stage

By popular demand, we need Chloe Bailey to hold a masterclass with some Nigerian musicians on how to wear shoes while performing on stage. Say no to bare feet.

Beg T-Pain to take it easy on us

It would be nice if she could help us beg T-Pain to have mercy on us and take it easy with the suffering.

Support Nollywood 

Chloe Bailey should definitely visit ICM during this visit to watch Funke Akindele’s Everybody Loves Jenifa and show support for Nollywood. Even better, let her do a meet-and-greet.

Shop Okrika at Yaba

It will be nice to see Chloe at Yaba Railway shopping for okrika and shoe gben gben for her performance later.

Got a tattoo at Ikeja Underbridge

If you come to Lagos and don’t get a tattoo at Ikeja Underbridge, did you even visit Lagos? We recommend a flower tattoo on her breast.

ALSO READ: Soft Power: How Nigerians Dominated the Internet in 2024

What will Detty December look like in this great T-Pain year? On Thursday, December 6, 2024, the 5th edition of the concert Fuji: A Opera, themed “Fuji Vibrations 2024” offered an answer.

Since its launch in 2020, the free Fuji music festival has remained dedicated to celebrating and bringing Fuji musicians closer to aficionados of the genre, music lovers, and fun seekers across generations, genders, and geography. What started as a one-off past-time shindig during the pandemic has metamorphosed into a running show that’s now in its fifth edition.

This year, Fuji: A Opera’s ambitions expanded. Together with the Fuji Music Association of Nigeria (FUMAN), it flourished with sponsorship from brands like Imperial Black, Goldberg and UAC Foods Nigeria, partnerships with White Space Lagos, Schweppes Nigeria, the burgeoning women-wear champ Meji Meji, and UB Fabrics—which also clothed the VIPs in a sky-blue print covered with “FUJI.” The “and co” attire, adorned by only the most avid Fuji fans and the one percenters able to buy that card, was giving “family and friends of Fuji Opera.” Barbecue sellers set up shop, grilling meat by an open bar at the back. Cups of beer went ‘round, as did plates of Ofada, peppersoup (in the VIP section, though they ignored the media partners). Puffs from all kinds of smoke— cigars, cigarettes, Canadian loud enveloped the arena.

Fuji: A Opera served a seasoned line-up of artists. DJ Kulet took over the stage a dozen times with her mix of Fuji sounds. Iyalode Music warmed up the crowd with her “alujo” dance music, before Alhaji Sikiru Lemon boosted the energy with his high-morale Fuji. Fatimo Ajoke Cinderella, who went viral for her song Allahu Motide, was the performer who didn’t miss a beat. She suddenly burst on stage introducing herself and then playing on the event name with “Opera Mini” before moving into a vigorous dance, reviving deeply anti-women ideas that also showed up in the welcome address by SK Sensation, the president of FUMAN.

Rather than critique the systems that inhabit the women who have been for years victims of the sex trade, Ajoke Cinarella seized the opportunity to promote an old tired trope about the activities of women in sex work. “PĂĄtĂĄ ashĂ©wĂł ĂČ kĂ­n n’ísin mi / BĂł sĂ© n bo, lĂł n wĂČ, lĂł n bo, lĂł n wĂČ,” she sang.

SK Sensation started his speech by saying, in YorĂčbĂĄ, “EkĂĄĂĄlĂ© o (meaning ’Good evening’) to the baba (fathers), the alejo (guests), the ololufe (fans).” He ignored all the women at an event whose anchor is women — women performing on stage, women serving drinks, women in the audience; seated, standing, dancing.

Singer Atawewe towed the same line, recognising only the men in the house even as he bragged that his detractors would never defeat him unless they weren’t “born out of a woman.” 

Remi Aluko’s quirky, street-smart renditions of Afrobeats and gospel hits combined with aggressive, freestyle dance moves scored a warm moment with the audience. He did his Fuji version of Rema’s “OZEBA” and addressed the ongoing discord in the Fuji music world. He urged the elders to behave elderly and the youngins to show respect.

The music jerked fast, but Lokoso Ajani, SK Sensation, and Aare Shina “Scorpido” Akanni, who Malaika and some other younger Fuji artists went to pay their respect to on stage, brought mid-tempo and veteran grooves that kept the agile and older folks in regulated moves. But that wasn’t for long. 59-year-old Abass Oberese, adorned in a grey-and-black coloured durag, vintage shirt, black jeans and white sneakers, stepped into the luminaire. He performed his hits “Asakasa” and “Mr. Teacher,” while the female dancers threw their behinds to the drum beats and Obesere’s hand directions—a nostalgic moment for those who grew up listening to his music in the early 2000s. Like the patron of Fuji music that he is, Wasiu Ayinde, AKA K1 De Ultimate, performed popular hits like “Ade Ori Okin” to close out the event. 

But the acts that grabbed the crowd most were Malaika and Saheed Osupa, two beloved Fuji veterans who took the stage at the tail end of a lineup, an ensemble that included other musicians across the Fuji scene. Though it was almost midnight and a new day was knocking at Muri Okunola Park in Victoria Island when Malaika opened his set, his eclectic performance—which turned into a celebratory sing-along in front of hundreds of fans—kept fans awake, agile, and gyrating. He made the crowd throw their white handkerchiefs in the air with his “Aro Eyo” chant performance, a nod to Lagos’ Eyo cultural heritage.

Saheed Osupa, on the other hand, started his set in the early hours of Friday and inflamed the stage with a rendition of his song, “Itanna Ogo”, off his “Fuji Icon” album. Then, he segued into an unreleased song in reverence to his home city, Ibadan, and to Dr. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, the originator of Fuji music. Osupa reckoned that Barrister may be gone, but Fuji music is alive and thriving. In the same breath, Osupa emphasised Fuji as his first choice of music and honoured and deified Barrister. “ÓsĂŹ wĂ  l’existence, to bĂĄ ti n’ígbĂ gbĂł / Á gbĂ© e wĂČ lĂłjijĂŹ tobĂĄ gbĂ  fĂșn Barry / TorĂ­pĂ© ĂŹmĂŹsĂ­ ÀyĂŹndĂ© ÒgĂșn ĂČĂČkĂș o, musically lĂłtĂșn mĂ­n,” he sang, as he strutted the platform in a confident pace. Every second of a pause gave the audience the chance to rave in excitement and cheers.

From start to finish, Fuji: A Opera prioritised the celebration of Fuji music, culture and artists, keeping alive the collective spirit it was designed to preserve. “We are doing this to get Fuji to make more statements in the world of music,” K1 De Ultimate said while presenting an award to the FUMAN president at the event. The vibe in the crowd was communal—old friends were reunited, and new friendships were made.

In Case You Missed It, We Wrote About the 10 Greatest Fuji Music Albums of All Time