Founder and Chief Experience Officer of Festival Managers Africa International Limited and Gbobaniyi of Ijebu-Igbo, Otunba Jide Fowode, tells TEMITOPE ADETUNJI about the vision behind the planned Ijebu Detty December festival, its cultural and economic objectives, the local government’s involvement and plans to position Ijebuland as a December destination
What is Ijebu Detty December?
The event is more than a festival. It is a platform for economic opportunities, cultural expression, youth engagement and destination development.
The idea is to create an annual December experience that brings people together. We know that during major festivals, particularly the Ileya celebration, many people return to Ijebu.
However, December does not attract the same level of activity. We want to create a platform that gives people another reason to come home.
We believe December presents several opportunities for economic activities and for members of the creative community to showcase their talents and enjoy themselves. It also provides an opportunity to position Ijebuland as an exciting destination for entertainment, tourism and investment.
We are familiar with the Detty December concept, which brings people together at different locations during the festive season to relax and have fun. What we are doing is bringing that experience to Ijebuland.
Is Ijebu Detty December the first festival organised by your company?
It is the first festival to be organised under Festival Managers Africa International Limited.
The company was established about two years ago, drawing on my personal experience in experiential marketing, event and festival management at different levels.
One of my sister companies has managed the Orimolusi Ojude Oba Festival for five years. Based on our experience with that project, we felt it was time to establish a business focused primarily on creating exciting experiences and opportunities for festivalgoers.
As a son of the soil and an Ijebu man, I also felt we should explore what we could achieve by starting from home.
What gap do you hope to address through the festival?
What we are trying to achieve is to develop exciting projects that are professionally delivered and capable of attracting brand support in subsequent years.
Our goal is to create interesting concepts, execute them with the right expertise and equipment, and establish opportunities for brands to participate. Ultimately, these activities will contribute economic value to Ijebuland.
Did your Ijebu heritage influence your decision to establish the festival in your hometown?
Definitely. I will not take that away from the decision. It is my own way of contributing to the development of the place I come from.
I am from Ijebu-Igbo, although not directly from Ijebu-Ode. So, yes, my background and connection to Ijebuland definitely influenced the decision.
What do you hope to achieve by introducing a Detty December experience in Ijebuland?
We want to create awareness that Ijebuland also has its own December celebration, alongside the activities taking place in Lagos and other major cities. We want people to recognise Ijebuland as another destination where they can enjoy the festive season.
How will the festival combine contemporary entertainment with Ijebu’s cultural heritage?
The event is designed as a full-day experience, beginning at noon and continuing into the early hours of the following morning.
We have planned different activities to cater to various interests. From noon, we will have the opening ceremony, followed by sections dedicated to food, fashion, lifestyle and exhibitions. We want to showcase our food, fashion, lifestyle, local businesses and products, as well as other things happening in Ijebuland, and make them visible to visitors.
The aim is not just to introduce these things to people from Ijebuland but also to expose visitors from other parts of the country to the richness of Ijebu culture and way of life.
From 3pm, there will be comedy, dance, games, cultural performances, live entertainment and several other activities.
Later in the evening, from about 10pm, the main concert will begin. We will feature one of the leading artistes in Ijebuland, alongside two other Afrobeats artistes whose participation is being finalised.
We are also engaging several artistes, comedians, dancers and other entertainers from Ijebuland. We want to give homegrown talents a platform to showcase themselves and celebrate their contributions to the entertainment industry.
The festival is structured into three major segments. What should attendees expect at each stage?
We have deliberately structured the festival as a continuous entertainment and lifestyle experience, with each phase offering something different.
The first segment, which runs from noon to 3pm, is the day experience. It will feature food, fashion, lifestyle, exhibitions and shopping opportunities. There will be food vendors, fashion displays, lifestyle brands, small and medium-sized enterprise exhibitions, product showcases and brand activations.
The second segment, from 3pm to 10pm, is what we call the vibe experience. This will feature comedy, DJ performances, dance, interactive games, competitions, cultural performances and live entertainment. We also have an Ankara Fashion Challenge designed to celebrate creativity and contemporary African fashion.
The final segment begins at 10pm and continues into the early hours of the following morning. This is the Detty Night finale, which will feature music and performances by established and emerging entertainers, supported by DJs and other entertainment acts.
We want people to have something to look forward to throughout the day rather than attend only for the musical performances.
The festival has received the endorsement of Ijebu-Ode Local Government. How important is this support to the project?
The endorsement is important because we recognise that initiatives of this nature require collaboration with relevant stakeholders within the community.
We are pleased to have the support of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, which has recognised the potential of the festival to contribute to tourism, entertainment, community engagement and economic development.
The local government has also confirmed the venue for the maiden edition. As part of the collaboration, the Executive Chairman, Hon. Dare Alebiosu, received the Official Host City Plaque from me as the founder of Festival Managers Africa International Limited.
We see this as an important step towards establishing the festival as an annual event.
Why was Itoro Open Ground chosen as the venue?
We want to create an experience that is accessible and capable of accommodating the different activities planned for the festival.
Itoro Open Ground, at the Ijebu-Ode Local Government Secretariat, has been confirmed as the venue for the maiden edition. We are working towards delivering an experience that will accommodate the daytime marketplace, cultural activities and evening entertainment programme.
Beyond entertainment, what economic opportunities do you expect the festival to create for residents and businesses?
One of the major objectives is to create economic opportunities for people within the community.
When people come together for an event of this nature, different businesses and individuals have opportunities to benefit. Food vendors, fashion entrepreneurs, exhibitors, artisans, creatives and other small business owners will have a platform to showcase their products and services.
We also want brands to identify opportunities to connect with consumers through the festival. There will be exhibitions, product showcases, shopping experiences and brand activations.
Ultimately, we want to drive visitor traffic and consumer spending, create opportunities for local businesses and creatives, and contribute to the social and economic development of the region.
How are you creating room for local talents to participate alongside established entertainers?
We are engaging artistes, comedians, dancers, DJs and other entertainers from Ijebuland because we believe that local talents deserve visibility.
We do not want the festival to be an event where people simply come to watch established entertainers. We also want to provide a platform for people within the community who have something to offer.
There are talented individuals in Ijebuland, and we want them to be part of the experience. It is an opportunity to showcase what they can do and connect them with a wider audience.
Can you give us an idea of the artistes and entertainment personalities expected?
We have Ganiyu Ayinde Abiola, popularly known as X1 De Future, confirmed as one of the headline performers. We are also working towards featuring two leading Afrobeats artistes, whose participation is being finalised. MC Coded CFR has also been confirmed as the event host.
Beyond the headline performances, we will have homegrown artistes, leading DJs, comedians, dancers and other entertainment personalities. We want to create a programme that reflects both the local entertainment community and the wider Nigerian entertainment industry.
What makes Ijebu Detty December different from the numerous December festivals and concerts already taking place across the country?
Our focus is on creating an experience that brings together entertainment, culture, lifestyle, entrepreneurship and tourism in one location.
We are not looking at music alone. We want people to experience Ijebu food, fashion, cultural expressions, businesses and other aspects of the community while also enjoying comedy, dance and live music.
It is also about creating a reason for people who have roots in Ijebuland to return home during December and for visitors from other parts of the country to discover what the town has to offer.
When exactly is the festival scheduled to hold?
The festival is scheduled for Wednesday, December 30, 2026, at Itoro Open Ground, Ijebu-Ode Local Government Secretariat.
Activities will begin at noon and continue into the early hours of the following morning. We are bringing together food, fashion, exhibitions, cultural performances, comedy, games and live music.
We want indigenes, residents, visitors, families, young people, businesses, brands, creatives and members of the Ijebu diaspora to be part of the experience.
What is your long-term vision for Ijebu Detty December beyond the maiden edition?
Our vision is to establish Ijebu Detty December as an annual festival that people look forward to every year. We want to build something that grows beyond a one-day entertainment event and becomes an important part of the December calendar in Ijebuland.
We want to attract more visitors, create stronger opportunities for local businesses and creatives, encourage brand partnerships and promote the cultural identity of the community.
Ultimately, we want Ijebuland to be recognised as a destination for entertainment, culture, tourism and enterprise during the festive season.
Source: