Nigeria: Detty December overload – Ghana has too many shows, too little time
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Nigeria
It is October 2026, and somewhere in Accra, an event organiser is staring at a calendar, rubbing his hands and thinking, “December will be massive!”
Somewhere else, an artiste is booking a venue, another is announcing a festival, and a fan is checking his bank balance and wondering if enjoying Christmas now requires a second job.
Welcome to Detty December, Ghana’s annual celebration of music, culture, tourism and entertainment, where the fun is unlimited, the invitations are endless, and your wallet has a very different opinion.
From concerts and music festivals to raves, beach parties, comedy shows, award ceremonies and celebrity-hosted parties, December has become the entertainment industry’s favourite playground. Accra, in particular, transforms into a giant stage, attracting diaspora returnees, tourists and locals eager to end the year on a high.
It is exciting, no doubt. But beneath the glitter, fireworks and Instagram stories lies an uncomfortable question: Are we giving fans more entertainment or just more decisions to regret
The problem with Detty December is no longer a shortage of events, but a shortage of time, money and energy to enjoy them. Artistes schedule major concerts on the same dates, fans are forced to choose between their favourites, and Accra’s traffic makes attending two shows in one night almost impossible.
Ghana has no universal holiday calendar that gives everyone the month off. Most people work hard all year, only to find their December savings competing with concert tickets, transport, food, outfits and family obligations. Rising ticket prices and overlapping events make it worse.
While the diaspora brings valuable spending power, it does not guarantee attendance at every show. Local fans remain the backbone of the industry and should not be treated as an endless supply of money, time and energy. When everyone fights for the same audience, the industry risks exhausting the very people it depends on.
There are 12 months in a year. January, February, March and the others have not resigned from the entertainment industry.
Yet December has become the default month for every artiste who wants to headline a concert, unveil a project or end the year with a grand statement.
The reasoning is understandable. The diaspora returns, the atmosphere is festive, and people are more willing to spend. But when everyone chases the same opportunity, the market becomes overcrowded.
When two artistes with overlapping fanbases schedule big concerts on the same night, they divide demand instead of expanding it. The result is lower attendance, reduced spending per event and fans who leave disappointed because they could not support everyone.
A well-planned calendar should encourage participation, not force fans into an entertainment version of Sophie’s Choice.
And there is the media. Smaller radio stations, online platforms and entertainment publications operate with limited staff and budgets. When several major events happen at the same time, comprehensive coverage becomes impossible. Someone must miss out — the journalist, the audience or the event itself.
The solution is not to cancel Detty December. That would be like asking Ghana to celebrate Christmas quietly. The solution is to spread the excitement throughout the year.
Artistes and promoters should explore a balanced annual calendar. February could host lovers’ concerts. April could welcome a music festival. June could celebrate live bands and cultural music. August could be for outdoor entertainment, while September and October accommodate album concerts and intimate fan experiences.
These are examples, not rigid prescriptions. The point is to build a year-round entertainment economy, not a one-month traffic jam.
Industry stakeholders — artistes, managers, promoters, venue operators, tourism authorities and media — should collaborate on an annual events calendar. Such coordination would help avoid clashes, improve publicity, support ticket sales and give audiences more chances to attend.
Promoters should also explore partnerships and shared programming where events can complement, not compete with, each other.
Most importantly, ending the year successfully does not require staging a personal concert. Releasing a great song, rewarding loyal fans, supporting a charity, hosting a small appreciation event or delivering memorable performances at other people’s shows can be equally meaningful.
There is also a responsibility to improve the concert experience itself. Reasonable ticket prices, reliable start times, clear communication and genuine value for money are essential. Fans should not have to choose between competing concerts only to arrive and wait three hours for the headliner.
Attendance is not just a number on a ticketing dashboard. It represents a person who has invested money, time and expectations in an experience.
A healthier calendar could encourage fans to attend more shows throughout the year, help promoters build sustainable brands and give artistes more opportunities to connect with their audiences.
December should be a celebration, not an examination in financial discipline, time management and emotional compromise.
Ghana’s entertainment industry has an opportunity in 2026 to move beyond the obsession with one festive month and build a culture of consistent live entertainment. The goal should be more opportunities for artistes, better business for promoters, stronger media coverage and more satisfying experiences for fans.
The audience cannot be in two places at once. The wallet cannot be stretched indefinitely. And the calendar has refused to add extra days just because our favourite artistes want to headline.
Dear artistes and promoters, the fans have supported you since January. Give them more opportunities to see you without forcing them to choose between you and another artiste they love.
December is special, but it is not the only month with a stage. Spread the shows, share the spotlight and give the fans room to breathe.
