If you are not familiar with Detty December, 

A.   Where have you been?

B.   You are missing out on one of the most notable gatherings and cultural celebrations for the African diasporans.

While many cultural moments likely informed Detty December’s genesis and popularity, Mr.Eazi is credited for universalizing the term #DettyDecember.  In 2016 Eazi released a track entitled, “Detty Yasef.” This song not only documents Eazi’s return to Nigeria after building a fanbase in Ghana but also the essence of Detty December which Eazi says, “Dirty yourself, have fun, chop life.”  During the song’s promotion and his preparation for his headline show, he decided to promote the concert with #DettyDecember hashtag and billboards to encapsulate the mood of his tour and the concert’s timing during the holiday season. While Eazi has managed to bring the term into vogue, it is undeniable that this now-popularized celebration has been happening for years.

As a Ghanaian-American whose parents emigrated to the States in the late 90s/early 2000s, it seemed inevitable that this global celebration and commitment to return would happen. Detty December is far from a meaningless celebration, but a historic conversation highlighting the ongoing happenings in the diaspora. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) notes that after Nigeria, Ghana has the highest number of inhabitants who choose to migrate to OECD countries. Ghanaian's migration to the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain accounts for approximately 85% of Ghana’s migration patterns. Young and unemployed people are over-represented in those looking to emigrate. If you are not familiar, the large, concerted desire to migrate stems from Africa’s unemployment crisis. A foreign policy article entitled, “Africa’s Youth Unemployment Crisis Is a Global Problem ” cites that one-third of Africa’s then 420 million young people between 15 and 35 years old were unemployed, another third were vulnerably employed, and only 1 in 6 was in wage employment. Additionally, Africa’s economic composition is largely different than that of largely industrialized countries. Many of Africa’s youth are unemployed, underemployed, work informally, or remain in poverty because of low wages. A Ghanaian Uber driver told me, “The dependency ratio is very high. You are struggling but you see how your siblings or parents are struggling you understand that you need to help your family. You understand that this is your life, so you take it like that.” During that same conversation, the Uber driver asked me what advice I would give to someone in my position looking to move to Ghana and, vice versa, advice for Ghanaians looking to emigrate abroad. He also shared that he had attempted to secure a visa appointment several times, but none of his efforts had been successful. This is not the first time I learned deeply about the morals of an average Ghanaian during an Uber trip. My experiences during this Detty December have reminded me of the necessary work we have to do to understand all forms of Blackness, especially on the continent, and to engage meaningfully while we are home on the continent. We have yet to see the long-term social and economic impact of Detty December, but one can hope that these moments inspire greater connectivity, and eventually, change.

Detty December, which started as an almost light-hearted innocuous term, has showcased the importance of return. While I have always felt the complexity of being a third-culture kid/ first-generation American, there have always been subtle regarding the politics of return across the African diaspora. Whether it be the Windrush generation or Ghanaians who emigrated during Bush’s era, immigration has never been easy. While there is promise and opportunity abroad, hearing first-hand accounts let me know that immigration is a drought with plenty of re-adjustment, lost connections to home, on occasion unmet expectations, and shame. Detty December has become a palpable mark of return. The Ghanaian government describes Year of Return in 2019 as a spiritual landmark and birth-right journey inviting members of the African diaspora to coalesce and commemorate 400 years since the TransAtlantic slave trade. The significance of Year of Return as a complement to the existing idea of Detty December is powerful and marks the continued global impact that Africa and its youth have. More importantly, these initiatives imbue Africans with a sense of pride, community, and purpose. Detty December’s role in return allows many to re-conceptualize global community and interaction.

#CohortDec23