Veteran Ghanaian musician and Presidential Staffer for the Blackstar Experience, Rex Omar, has responded to the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin, over his recent criticism of Ghana’s popular end-of-year festivities, Detty December.
Rex Omar addressed the Speaker’s remarks, which suggested that the term “Detty December” paints a negative picture of Ghana.
The Speaker recounted a conversation with a Black woman in the U.S. who described Detty December as a time when people come to Ghana to do “whatever they want,” a characterization he found disturbing and inappropriate.
The veteran musician, however, believes the Speaker’s concerns stem from a generational misunderstanding of creative language.
“I understand, speaker, because obviously, if you hear the word, and it has to relate to Ghana, you would ask questions until someone explains to you in the context. But it has become a word that has attracted people to come to Ghana. Those who come to Ghana don’t really think of Ghana as being dirty. So we will plead with Honourable Speaker of parliament that we, the creatives, have a way of doing things…”
Rex Omar
He further clarified the meaning and spelling of “Detty” – an intentional stylization distinct from the word “dirty.”
“It’s not ‘D-i-r-t-y’ [literally spelling], Detty December is ‘D-e-t-t-y’ [literally spelling]. ‘Detty December’ means Unrestricted Celebrations. Come from all over the world and enjoy. But we have laws in this country! You cannot come here and do anything that is against the law; if you are found guilty, you will be arrested. So whoever translated it to him that you can come and do anything that you like, it’s not true. So Honourable Speaker, we plead with you: we are creatives, so please let us be free and do our stuff. Thank you very much.”
Rex Omar
The annual Detty December celebrations have grown into a global phenomenon, attracting diasporans and tourists to Ghana each December for concerts, cultural showcases, and nightlife events.
Many creatives and stakeholders in Ghana’s entertainment sector credit the movement with boosting tourism and spotlighting Ghana as a global destination for arts and culture.
The veteran’s comments highlight the ongoing conversation between Ghana’s policymakers and creative industry players, as both sides navigate the balance between cultural expression and national image.
Rex Omar Dismisses Claims of Black Star Experience
Presidential Staffer and Coordinator of the Black Star Experience Secretariat dismissed claims that the Black Star Experience is merely a rebranded version of the ‘Year of Return’.
Addressing the criticisms, the veteran musician explained that the Black Star Experience is not an event, but a year-round lifestyle designed to promote Ghanaian identity and culture. “Those saying the Black Star Experience is another form of the Year of Return do not understand the initiative and concept,” he said.
He clarified that while the ‘Year of Return’ was a specific commemorative event, stating that the Black Star Experience is a broader, ongoing cultural initiative. “The Year of Return was just an event which celebrated the end of transatlantic slavery—that’s why after the celebration they also brought Beyond the Return,” he explained.
Rex Omar stressed that the Black Star Experience is about celebrating and promoting Ghanaian culture every single day of the year.
“Black Star Experience is not an event but rather 365 days way of life which seeks to promote and project everything Ghanaian to the world. Our food, our clothes, and every time you spend on a Ghanaian product, you’re making the Black Star shine, so the Black Star Experience is a way of life.”
Rex Omar
The initiative, according to the Presidential Staffer, is aimed at instilling national pride and encouraging both Ghanaians and the diaspora to consciously invest in and celebrate Ghanaian culture through their daily choices and lifestyles.
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