Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio news.

Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio news.

Going home for the holidays can be more than just about seeing your family. It can be about finding your roots.

Going home for the holidays can be more than just about seeing your family. It can be about finding your roots.

For some that connection that's wherever it leaves that person you know who have been struggling of years to know where do I come from? Why am I of Thescala? Where could my great great grandparents have come from?

For some that connection that's wherever it leaves that person you know who have been struggling of years to know where do I come from? Why am I of Thescala? Where could my great great grandparents have come from?

But it can also be an excuse for many to have fun. What's known as Debty December has grown into a huge party, with many traveling from all over the world, bringing money and boosting some local economies.

But it can also be an excuse for many to have fun. What's known as Debty December has grown into a huge party, with many traveling from all over the world, bringing money and boosting some local economies.

And to to leg city to Lega city.

And to to leg city to Lega city.

On today's episode of The Next Africa Podcast, we'll ask whether the Big December event is giving struggling economies and places like Nigeria and Ghana the boost they actually need, or just making things tougher for locals who won't see the benefits when the party's over. I'm Jennifer Zaba Saja and this is the Next Africa Podcast, bringing you one story each week from the continent driving the future of global growth with the context only Bloomberg can provide. Joining us this week is Bloomberg's tiwa Adebayo, who has spent much of this past December in Nigeria and has done quite a bit of reporting on this. She's joining us now, Tia, Happy New Year to you, so talk to us about what exactly debty December is and what you saw when you were in Legos.

On today's episode of The Next Africa Podcast, we'll ask whether the Big December event is giving struggling economies and places like Nigeria and Ghana the boost they actually need, or just making things tougher for locals who won't see the benefits when the party's over. I'm Jennifer Zaba Saja and this is the Next Africa Podcast, bringing you one story each week from the continent driving the future of global growth with the context only Bloomberg can provide. Joining us this week is Bloomberg's tiwa Adebayo, who has spent much of this past December in Nigeria and has done quite a bit of reporting on this. She's joining us now, Tia, Happy New Year to you, so talk to us about what exactly debty December is and what you saw when you were in Legos.

Wow, as the legend has it, debty December, that's dee tty by the way. As a phenomenon, it started back in twenty sixteen when if the singer missed the Easy he used the phrase to refer to one of his concerts on a hashtag and social media and since then the meaning of the phrase has really metamorphosized. I mean it now refers really to a time of year when a large volume of diasporans and other visitors descend on African cities, particularly Akra and Ghana and Lagos in Nigeria, and they come to see family, to catch up with friends, and crucially to party a lot of the time. But what struck me about Lagos this year was the real presence of non diaspora Nigerians. So there was even a host of celebrities international artists like Sweety Chloe Bailey for example. It seems to have become this real cultural moment which has gone from people simply coming back home to see their families to a huge tourist destination being created out of cities like Legos and Akra and a huge time of celebration of cultural innovation and of course provide perhaps an economic boost to these cities too.

Wow, as the legend has it, debty December, that's dee tty by the way. As a phenomenon, it started back in twenty sixteen when if the singer missed the Easy he used the phrase to refer to one of his concerts on a hashtag and social media and since then the meaning of the phrase has really metamorphosized. I mean it now refers really to a time of year when a large volume of diasporans and other visitors descend on African cities, particularly Akra and Ghana and Lagos in Nigeria, and they come to see family, to catch up with friends, and crucially to party a lot of the time. But what struck me about Lagos this year was the real presence of non diaspora Nigerians. So there was even a host of celebrities international artists like Sweety Chloe Bailey for example. It seems to have become this real cultural moment which has gone from people simply coming back home to see their families to a huge tourist destination being created out of cities like Legos and Akra and a huge time of celebration of cultural innovation and of course provide perhaps an economic boost to these cities too.

And TA talk about where we're seeing the biggest influx or where we did see the biggest influx this past holiday season. You mentioned the economic benefits. What sort of numbers are we talking about here if you can quantify it for us.

And TA talk about where we're seeing the biggest influx or where we did see the biggest influx this past holiday season. You mentioned the economic benefits. What sort of numbers are we talking about here if you can quantify it for us.

Well, I mean it's been focused really around cities like Legos Nicra.

Well, I mean it's been focused really around cities like Legos Nicra.

However, actually yesterday I was.

However, actually yesterday I was.

Speaking to the Honorable Commissioner for Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs in Edo State, Nigeria. That's doctor Uyi Dua Malacca and her state is in southern Nigeria actually, and she told me that they too have seen increased number of visitors, so it's perhaps not just all about the cities at the moment. They've particularly seen increased visits to cultural sites like their newly completed Museum of West African Art in Benin City. In terms of the numbers, we're still awaiting the official stats for twenty twenty four, but all of the indicators so far to this year having been the biggest yet in terms of dirty December.

Speaking to the Honorable Commissioner for Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs in Edo State, Nigeria. That's doctor Uyi Dua Malacca and her state is in southern Nigeria actually, and she told me that they too have seen increased number of visitors, so it's perhaps not just all about the cities at the moment. They've particularly seen increased visits to cultural sites like their newly completed Museum of West African Art in Benin City. In terms of the numbers, we're still awaiting the official stats for twenty twenty four, but all of the indicators so far to this year having been the biggest yet in terms of dirty December.

Here's what she said to me. Statistics and readily available, but I can tell you for Freeda at tim about twenty twenty three.

Here's what she said to me. Statistics and readily available, but I can tell you for Freeda at tim about twenty twenty three.

My Koda's Economy GDP had it about fopising boosts from dirty tom by activities and twenty twenty four was even bigger.

My Koda's Economy GDP had it about fopising boosts from dirty tom by activities and twenty twenty four was even bigger.

And just to give you a bit of a flavor of what that means, if you look back at twenty twenty three, the official statistics show that Legos, just Legos alone welcomed one point two million tourists, and experts forecast of fifteen percent surge from that number in twenty twenty four. So it's a significant number of people. And there have also been some adjustments made which would perhaps point to there being more tourists. And that's because some of the governments in Ghana, for example, are actually making things easier for tourists that they're trying to entice them. So this year in gard from the first of December twenty twenty four right up until January fifteenth, twenty twenty five, tourists are able to enter without the need for visa pre approval, and that's really been done as part of an effort to make the overall process of travel to Ghana easier. They know that December is a hot spot, is a time when a lot of tourists want to come and visit Garana from all over the world, and they want to make that as easy as possible.

And just to give you a bit of a flavor of what that means, if you look back at twenty twenty three, the official statistics show that Legos, just Legos alone welcomed one point two million tourists, and experts forecast of fifteen percent surge from that number in twenty twenty four. So it's a significant number of people. And there have also been some adjustments made which would perhaps point to there being more tourists. And that's because some of the governments in Ghana, for example, are actually making things easier for tourists that they're trying to entice them. So this year in gard from the first of December twenty twenty four right up until January fifteenth, twenty twenty five, tourists are able to enter without the need for visa pre approval, and that's really been done as part of an effort to make the overall process of travel to Ghana easier. They know that December is a hot spot, is a time when a lot of tourists want to come and visit Garana from all over the world, and they want to make that as easy as possible.

They want to welcome as many tourists as possible.

They want to welcome as many tourists as possible.

And that initiative in Ghana is part of something called Beyond the Return, which is linked to the famous Year of Return twenty nineteen initiative, which sort of tried to celebrate the historic links between Africa and its daspora, inviting a lot of Black Americans, for example, to come to Gharna and discover their roots, and some were even given citizenship.

And that initiative in Ghana is part of something called Beyond the Return, which is linked to the famous Year of Return twenty nineteen initiative, which sort of tried to celebrate the historic links between Africa and its daspora, inviting a lot of Black Americans, for example, to come to Gharna and discover their roots, and some were even given citizenship.

And I remember when the Year of Return really took off, when I was back in the States. It was really a moment for people. We were mentioning going back to your roots. When we talk about today though, and what happens in dirty December, what sort of things do people do. You were mentioning museums and memorials, I mean, how do you make the most out of the time there what did you do, Tuua?

And I remember when the Year of Return really took off, when I was back in the States. It was really a moment for people. We were mentioning going back to your roots. When we talk about today though, and what happens in dirty December, what sort of things do people do. You were mentioning museums and memorials, I mean, how do you make the most out of the time there what did you do, Tuua?

Well, there are lots of things to do, and I think that's what people are realizing. It's not just about the partying, which has perhaps been the narrative that's been spread about Dirty December in previous years. I think what's been really interesting this year is the cultural benefits that have come from so many tourists coming to Nigerian Ghana, but also the attention in the cultural zeitgeist that's been placed on these countries. So artists, especially in Nigerian and Ghani and artists are using this opportunity not just to perform to new audiences physically, but also they're making the most of the attention that's being placed on them globally, and they're using that opportunity to perhaps launch new artistic projects because they know that December is a time not just when people visit their countries, but when people pay attention to their countries online. You will have heard at the beginning of the podcast a song about Lagos called come to Eco. It's by Nigerian duo Oiza and May and I spoke to them a bit about this song that they have, which talks about legos and everything that there is to offer in the bustling city, and they said to me that they actually chose to release the song close to December to capitalize on that sort of cultural opportunity.

Well, there are lots of things to do, and I think that's what people are realizing. It's not just about the partying, which has perhaps been the narrative that's been spread about Dirty December in previous years. I think what's been really interesting this year is the cultural benefits that have come from so many tourists coming to Nigerian Ghana, but also the attention in the cultural zeitgeist that's been placed on these countries. So artists, especially in Nigerian and Ghani and artists are using this opportunity not just to perform to new audiences physically, but also they're making the most of the attention that's being placed on them globally, and they're using that opportunity to perhaps launch new artistic projects because they know that December is a time not just when people visit their countries, but when people pay attention to their countries online. You will have heard at the beginning of the podcast a song about Lagos called come to Eco. It's by Nigerian duo Oiza and May and I spoke to them a bit about this song that they have, which talks about legos and everything that there is to offer in the bustling city, and they said to me that they actually chose to release the song close to December to capitalize on that sort of cultural opportunity.

So December is a really really good time. There's a lot of shows, a lot of activities, and they are looking for a lot of artists upcoming, big middle class artists. Everybody, as far as you're in the musical or entertainment space.

So December is a really really good time. There's a lot of shows, a lot of activities, and they are looking for a lot of artists upcoming, big middle class artists. Everybody, as far as you're in the musical or entertainment space.

This is a Greek time.

This is a Greek time.

So really everyone is trying to take advantage of the debty December phenomenon, and even the government, for example in Nigeria, they're also trying to capitalize on the attention in an economic sense. So there's something called the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System which has been introduced from December twenty twenty four, and that means that there'll be a non resident bank verification number platform. And what all that means is that it's going to be much easier for Nigerians living outside of the country to manage their local bank accounts and conduct business. And officials when they're talking about this policy, they've said it's to ensure that Nigerians, regardless of their location, can engage seamlessly with the economy and expand their business opportunities. And it's no coincidence that that initiative was started in December twenty twenty four. So what we can see is the government really trying to take advantage of this economic opportunity.

So really everyone is trying to take advantage of the debty December phenomenon, and even the government, for example in Nigeria, they're also trying to capitalize on the attention in an economic sense. So there's something called the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System which has been introduced from December twenty twenty four, and that means that there'll be a non resident bank verification number platform. And what all that means is that it's going to be much easier for Nigerians living outside of the country to manage their local bank accounts and conduct business. And officials when they're talking about this policy, they've said it's to ensure that Nigerians, regardless of their location, can engage seamlessly with the economy and expand their business opportunities. And it's no coincidence that that initiative was started in December twenty twenty four. So what we can see is the government really trying to take advantage of this economic opportunity.

Stick with us to because it's not our winners involved. When we come back, we'll talk about why not everyone's happy with Dirty December. Will be right back, Welcome back today. On the podcast, we're talking about Dirty December and how cities in West Africa encourage the diaspora to come home for Christmas and for the holidays. Tia Atebaio is still with us, so talk about some of the downsides that people have been alluding to when it relates to Dirty December.

Stick with us to because it's not our winners involved. When we come back, we'll talk about why not everyone's happy with Dirty December. Will be right back, Welcome back today. On the podcast, we're talking about Dirty December and how cities in West Africa encourage the diaspora to come home for Christmas and for the holidays. Tia Atebaio is still with us, so talk about some of the downsides that people have been alluding to when it relates to Dirty December.

Well, this year, Dirty December has been quite the controversial topic online as well.

Well, this year, Dirty December has been quite the controversial topic online as well.

There's been a.

There's been a.

Huge discourse really between the people that live in these countries full time, in Akra and in Lagos and people that they're calling IJGBS or I just got back, So that's the term for parts of the diaspora that come seasonally to these cities and some people aren't happy. They say the country's infrastructure can't handle the influx of tourists. There's been huge problems with traffic, especially in Lagos, and they say that people with their foreign currencies are also driving up the prices of goods, making them even more unaffordable for local residents. And that's something that's been very prevalent on social media. Here are some clips of what people had to say, IgGs to go because why there's so much affric on the island.

Huge discourse really between the people that live in these countries full time, in Akra and in Lagos and people that they're calling IJGBS or I just got back, So that's the term for parts of the diaspora that come seasonally to these cities and some people aren't happy. They say the country's infrastructure can't handle the influx of tourists. There's been huge problems with traffic, especially in Lagos, and they say that people with their foreign currencies are also driving up the prices of goods, making them even more unaffordable for local residents. And that's something that's been very prevalent on social media. Here are some clips of what people had to say, IgGs to go because why there's so much affric on the island.

I couldn't even make it.

I couldn't even make it.

To my plans like this.

To my plans like this.

Ers are just like, oh God.

Ers are just like, oh God.

Everybody that is coming to Nigeria is going to Legos, Legos.

Everybody that is coming to Nigeria is going to Legos, Legos.

There is module of Nigeria.

There is module of Nigeria.

Prices are increasing like crazy.

Prices are increasing like crazy.

And so really we can't talk about the economics of Debty December without mentioning the context. Using Nigeria for an example, the Nayra hit record lows in twenty twenty four. Inflation was at a twenty eight year high of thirty four point six percent in December twenty twenty four, and drilling into that far food inflation. Food is really a core part of Derty December, with many tourists going out to eat at local restaurants, but looking at that picture, for local residents, food inflation quickened to thirty nine point nine percent in November.

And so really we can't talk about the economics of Debty December without mentioning the context. Using Nigeria for an example, the Nayra hit record lows in twenty twenty four. Inflation was at a twenty eight year high of thirty four point six percent in December twenty twenty four, and drilling into that far food inflation. Food is really a core part of Derty December, with many tourists going out to eat at local restaurants, but looking at that picture, for local residents, food inflation quickened to thirty nine point nine percent in November.

So that's the backdrop that we're working with. But in Lagos in.

So that's the backdrop that we're working with. But in Lagos in.

Particular, actually, something that I noticed whilst I was there is that perhaps the trickle down economics of dirty December isn't really playing out how many people think it should or would like it to in a geographic sense. So Lagos is really split into the mainland and then Lagos Island, which is typically more affluent, and that's really where a lot of the tourists have been concentrated, where most of the bars and clubs and restaurants and theaters are that have been really popular over the month of December.

Particular, actually, something that I noticed whilst I was there is that perhaps the trickle down economics of dirty December isn't really playing out how many people think it should or would like it to in a geographic sense. So Lagos is really split into the mainland and then Lagos Island, which is typically more affluent, and that's really where a lot of the tourists have been concentrated, where most of the bars and clubs and restaurants and theaters are that have been really popular over the month of December.

And just being there over that period you can see.

And just being there over that period you can see.

Really a price difference between those two places. Things on the mainland often very much cheaper than on the island, where prices are being driven up. So if all that foreign currency and all that economic power coming in is being concentrated on the island, you have to wonder are the locals really benefiting from this?

Really a price difference between those two places. Things on the mainland often very much cheaper than on the island, where prices are being driven up. So if all that foreign currency and all that economic power coming in is being concentrated on the island, you have to wonder are the locals really benefiting from this?

See when we talk about support from the diaspora in America, across Europe, in the UK, is anyone on social or on any of the officials that you've spoken with have suggestions for what support could look like.

See when we talk about support from the diaspora in America, across Europe, in the UK, is anyone on social or on any of the officials that you've spoken with have suggestions for what support could look like.

Well, when I was speaking to someone that works a lot with their diasper, that's the Honorable Commissioner for Arts, Culture, Tourism and also Diaspora Affairs in Edo State.

Well, when I was speaking to someone that works a lot with their diasper, that's the Honorable Commissioner for Arts, Culture, Tourism and also Diaspora Affairs in Edo State.

She told me that the diasper is a key pillar for her work.

She told me that the diasper is a key pillar for her work.

She's been able to reach out to people in the US, in the UK for example, to help fund the work that she's doing in the state, and that's something that she's says to me she really wants to continue to do going forward, not just around December. They're also trying to build other touch points around the year, particularly in Easter. There's also due to be Lagos Fashion Week celebrations, so they're trying to make this a more regular thing and keep that line of communication open with the diaspara. And I think that's also evidenced by policies such as making it easier to manage your bank account in Lagos remotely or in Nigeria remotely if you're in the diaspora. So there are things like that that the government is trying to make easier to try and make that process and that link, that bridge between the diaspora and Nigeria smoother and it's definitely something will probably continue to see going forward in twenty twenty five.

She's been able to reach out to people in the US, in the UK for example, to help fund the work that she's doing in the state, and that's something that she's says to me she really wants to continue to do going forward, not just around December. They're also trying to build other touch points around the year, particularly in Easter. There's also due to be Lagos Fashion Week celebrations, so they're trying to make this a more regular thing and keep that line of communication open with the diaspara. And I think that's also evidenced by policies such as making it easier to manage your bank account in Lagos remotely or in Nigeria remotely if you're in the diaspora. So there are things like that that the government is trying to make easier to try and make that process and that link, that bridge between the diaspora and Nigeria smoother and it's definitely something will probably continue to see going forward in twenty twenty five.

Thank you so much for joining us and bringing us the story and you're reporting. Great to get you on. That's Tua Adebayo. Here's some other stories we've been following across the region this week. M twenty three rebels appear to be planning a long term occupation of mineral rich territories in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. United Nations experts warned, and a report released Wednesday, since April m twenty three has been seizing Congolese towns with the help of Rwandan forces and setting up parallel government administrations to control key minds and trade routes. That's what the report said. Rwanda denies supporting the rebels and says it's committed to a ceasefire and peace talks with Congo. Also, Hershet's company is asking the US's top derivatives regulator for permission to buy a huge amount of coco through the New York Exchange after global shortages sent prices to a record that's according to people familiar with the matter. The move comes as the global market is forecast to face a fourth year of supply shortages after the spread of disease and poor weather hurt crops in the Ivory Coast and Ghanam, which usually account for more than sixty percent of global supplies. Prices have already broken record after record, prompting Hershey's chief financial officer to warn that the company would face higher cocoa costs this year. And you can follow these stories across Bloomberg, including the next African Newsletter. We'll put a link to that in the show notes. This program was produced by Adrian Bradley. Don't forget to follow and review the show wherever you usually get your podcasts. I'm Jennifer Zaba Saja. Thank you for listening.

Thank you so much for joining us and bringing us the story and you're reporting. Great to get you on. That's Tua Adebayo. Here's some other stories we've been following across the region this week. M twenty three rebels appear to be planning a long term occupation of mineral rich territories in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. United Nations experts warned, and a report released Wednesday, since April m twenty three has been seizing Congolese towns with the help of Rwandan forces and setting up parallel government administrations to control key minds and trade routes. That's what the report said. Rwanda denies supporting the rebels and says it's committed to a ceasefire and peace talks with Congo. Also, Hershet's company is asking the US's top derivatives regulator for permission to buy a huge amount of coco through the New York Exchange after global shortages sent prices to a record that's according to people familiar with the matter. The move comes as the global market is forecast to face a fourth year of supply shortages after the spread of disease and poor weather hurt crops in the Ivory Coast and Ghanam, which usually account for more than sixty percent of global supplies. Prices have already broken record after record, prompting Hershey's chief financial officer to warn that the company would face higher cocoa costs this year. And you can follow these stories across Bloomberg, including the next African Newsletter. We'll put a link to that in the show notes. This program was produced by Adrian Bradley. Don't forget to follow and review the show wherever you usually get your podcasts. I'm Jennifer Zaba Saja. Thank you for listening.