FirstBank Decemberissavybe: if your December is not Vybing, you aren’t in December

Bolaji Israel.

In Nigeria, the first day of December ushers in the advent of the festive season, which runs through the month progressively till early January, when businesses and official duties resume fully again. December, in the world’s most populous black nation, is characterised, by fascinating scenery, by shops, streets, offices and homes getting decorated with twinkling lights and dazzling ornaments.

The month also welcomes the religious festivities of Christmas, the biggest celebration for Christians globally, which takes place just a week before the New Year rolls in amidst a celebration unmatched by any other from the rest of the year. Festive concerts, feasts, festivals, carnivals, musical shows, colourful decorations and family reunions generally envelop the season.

For almost everyone, it’s a time to merry with friends and family, attend celebratory events, give and accept gifts, enjoy entertainment and feast together. December is a big deal in Nigeria, and the people know how to savour the moments well. Interestingly, the celebration is not limited as it cuts across all classes and shades irrespective of social status, religion, personality or age – the rich, poor, young, old, cool and radicals. It’s usually a time everyone eagerly awaits for fun, merrymaking and mental and physical relaxation. To get ample time for merry-making, employees in Nigeria push hard in offices to get annual leave approvals for the period.

Another key, exciting hallmark of the festive season is the homecoming visits of Nigerians who have travelled abroad for greener pastures, a trend popularly called ‘Japa’ in local parlance. It’s a common belief that the Nigerian spirit is a hustling one, and no distance is too large to scare a Nigerian from a potential source of income, be it the journey from the remotest village to Lagos or from there to the farthest corners of the world. The December period thus presents an opportunity to reunite families.

The returnees constitute an essential ‘life of the party’ as they hit the country ready to visit places, mingle and bond, to the admiration and embrace of peers and family members. It’s always a great period for the returnees and their loved ones to create great memories, spend time, go around town for great entertainment and have fun together.

Their presence also commands attention and adds colour to village and town hall meetings, community projects and social gatherings, especially wedding parties, as well as other family functions deliberately fixed around the season to court the beloved presence of the “I just got backs” who bask endlessly in the euphoria.

First Bank of Nigeria Limited, as a company with the mantra of being woven into the fabrics of society, has continued to demonstrate its understanding of the uniqueness and essence of the festive season with its consistent support for the same through the ‘December Is a vybe’ campaign.

Unfortunately, the Nigerian economy has struggled sluggishly for some time, with an attendant harsh impact on individual and household finances and sliding purchasing power. This gets worsened by the galloping inflation, increasing cost of living, and the skyrocketing price of premium motor spirits (PMS), locally called petrol.

Yet, the average Nigerian craves great fun and quality entertainment during the Yuletide season. So, the December festivities come as the added weight with tickets as high as N70K for A-list musical acts like Asake, Kizz Daniel, Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid and others.

To throw off the weight, the December Is a vybe campaign offers free VIP tickets from FirstBank to Nigerians for access to coveted A-list musical concerts, opera, comedy shows, stage plays, dance and other genres of entertainment throughout the festive season to assure maximum pleasure.

Folake Ani-Mumuney, FirstBank Global Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, said the premier financial institution, which has operated in Nigeria for over 125 years, deliberately orchestrated the campaign to create platforms for Nigerians at home and those returning from abroad to enjoy entertainment, bond well and enjoy the best of the festive season together after a period of separation in pursuit of excellence and success.

“Through ‘December Is a vybe’, FirstBank has always brought Nigerians the best exciting, fun-filled, memorable experience in December with the sponsorship of concerts, creative arts; food Fiesta; fashion etc. and it’s set again with a bang in 2022, ready to enable people to relive the experience and live their dreams, ” she stated.

She noted that the 2022 edition offers fresh opportunities and platforms for another memorable Homecoming experience this December for Nigerians visiting from abroad, wedding celebrants, and friends and family reunions. FirstBank ‘December Is a vybe’ offers the returnees a good opportunity to reunite and enjoy premium entertainment with family and friends.

She explained: “The programme has not slowed since it started. We supported Waka the Musical in 2017, which was also taken to Abuja in 2018. We gave Nigerians premium access to the Davido show, amongst others in 2017, Burna Boy in 2018, Future in 2019, Davido and Burna in 2021 and for 2022, we will start with VIP access to Kizz Daniel’s show, followed by many more.

In recent years, the foremost banking giant has made December quite memorable. From the exciting Alternative Sound 4.0, held at Terra Culture on 5 December 2019, to the memorable Cardi B live in Lagos by Livespot Concert on 7 December 2019 and the unforgettable “An Evening with FBNHoldings” held on 13 December 2019 to the pleasure overload of Island Block Party at Oniru Lagos on 14 December, lucky customers and followers of the Bank’s social media handles were given free tickets to have loads of fun!

Also, in the bouquet of the fun extravaganza was Teni – The Billionaire Experience musical concert held at Eko Hotel on Monday, 16 December 2019, which had many thrilled to the finest of tunes by the Billionaire crooner and other guest artists present.

The annual Nativeland music festival at Muri Okunola Park was another fun spot which has, since its inauguration in 2016, featured breathtaking performances by A-list artists.

Youth and teenage fashionistas were not left out; as with Street Souk, they had a feeling of current trends and creativity in the fashion industry. The event was held on 18 December 2019. For those keen on getting the latest designs, wears and fabrics in fashion, the African Fashion Week Nigeria was another port of call. The event, held on 20 – 21 December 2019, attracted leading players in the fashion industry and deepened participants’ fashion appetites and interests.

Building into Christmas was Flytime Rhythm Unplugged, which started on 20 December at the Eko Hotel and Suites. The 5-day music festival had performances from leading artists in the country. Olamide, Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage, MI, Ycee, Patoranking, Mayorkun, Teni, Zlatan, Joeboy, Fireboy, B Red, Tolani, Jeff Akoh, Oluwadamilola thrilled fun lovers to the best of charts topping tunes not just in Nigeria but the continent. DJ Neptune, DJ Consequence, DJ Obi, and DJ Cuppy were on the steel wheels.

Kizz Daniel’s Toro concert on 26 December 2019 and Tu Face’s musical show on 28 December built up to the wrap-up of the list of December events with Future, the American rap music sensational performance live in Lagos.

The Future Live in Concert was held on 29 December 2019 at the Eko hotel. The 80s boy band, New Edition’s performance at the FlyTime Music Festival in Lagos was also electrifying, with Burna Boy Live, Davido Live and many more in action!

For plays, the December Issavybe train featured sponsorships of Moremi and Oba Eshugbayi plays, which focused on the highlighted history of Lagos: the struggle over the water tax imposed by the British on the people of Lagos and the expulsion of Oba Esugbayi, who stood against tax, to Abeokuta. The play was from the stable of Joseph Edgar of the iconic Duke of Shomolu Productions.

Two lucky fans, Tina Ediale and Timilehin Anibaba, amongst others, got to see their favourite star Davido Live in Concert; another winner, Azeez Animashaun, couldn’t believe his luck when he got a VIP Rhythm Unplugged ticket while some got a special treat watching ace actress Omotola Jalade Ekeinde as Esumirin in Moremi The Musical. Social media followers also scored invitations to parties including Island Block Party, All Black Everything; conferences Golas Grit Grind 2.0; festivals: Native Land, Palmwine Festival; and pop-up sales: Mente de Moda.”

For the 2022 campaign, FirstBank says it will start the festive season with VIP access to the rave of the moment, Kizz Daniel’s show. Kizz is so loved right now, and many Nigerians, especially women, can’t seem to get enough of his monster hit, Cough (Odoyewu). He also has many songs that will delight his show any day, including Buga, Lie, No Wahala, Oshe, Yeba, One Ticket, Woju, Laye, Jaho, Sofa and many others. With First Bank, December promises to be an awesome experience!

To participate, all required is to follow FirstBank’s social media pages and updates on – Facebook: First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Instagram: @firstbanknigeria and get the tickets from there.