Nigerian Parties are the BEST
Nigerians love to party. We come up with parties for everything. A child is born? Yorubas have a naming ceremony when he/she is 7 days old. This often comes with a naming part and a party following it, with or without the actual baby present. In fact, it’s best if the baby isn’t there. Tuesday? Let’s pop some Bailey’s because it’s the day after Monday. We party for ANY reason. But our parties are THE BEST. If you haven’t been to a Nigerian party before, befriend a Nigerian and make them take you to one.
The party I’m describing below aren’t the ones we have at the club. They are the ones where folks are wearing native.
Why are our parties so AWESOME?
*They are NEVER on a small scale. I’ve never seen someone have a “quaint” party. Our parties can have 300-800 people invited, easily. We are no strangers to renting big halls. And it’ll be for something random too, like a 37th birthday. o__O
True story: When my Granny had her 60th birthday celebration in Nigeria, she shut down 3 blocks for 2 straight days because of it. Had a total of 4 cakes. AND had the most popular Nigerian singer (and an icon) sing live. It was Ebenezer Obey (that’s like having Luther Vandross serenade you for 4 hours). It was THAT serious. We does it SO big.
*People come dressed in their BEST. For most Nigerian parties, people are dressed to THE NINES! You haven’t seen G’ed up til you go to a Naija party and see 30 people rocking the same material clothing all in different styles. The women in elaborate headties (called geles) and the men in their long robes (agbadas). These outfits could cost up to $500 too, between buying the material, headtie and getting them sewn by your seamstress (Sidenote: Every Nigerian has a seamstress. Shoutouts to Abena on Wilson!)
Oh, and the person throwing the party will often change 2-4 times. Calculate that. Yeah Gucci what? PSHT!
*We spray money. When people dance at Naija parties, they get sprayed money. What do I mean by “spray?” I mean, people literally make it rain on your head. We were the original folks that made it rain, while others make it drizzle lightly. Everyone comes to a formal Naija party with purses and pockets full of singles because you have to spray people as they dance. And you will get sprayed too.
The people who are throwing the party get sprayed the most though. They get sprayed so much that they usually need 2-3 people designated to picking up their money from the floor. This can end up meaning they take 3-4 trashbags FULL of money home. Money money money money… MONAY!!!
I ain’t gon lie. I may go to a party and not feel like dancing. But let the spraying start, best believe I’m 2-stepping my way to the dance floor and doing some jigs. I danced for 10 minutes once and walked away with $50. KACHING!
*We party til 6 in the morning. LITERALLY. Nigerian parties are known to last until 6 or 7am. This is typical. Remember how I said we can’t be on time for nothing? Well, we get to parties at 1am and kick it until 6am.
So yeah. Nigerian birthdays, weddings, memorials (yes, even those) are events to be at. We’re a flashy people so we definitely take them the extra mile. Oh and in case you were wondering why I like Bailey’s Irish Cream so much… well you won’t go to one of our events and NOT see any. It’s our drink of choice.
Have you ever been to a Nigerian party? What did you think? To my Naija people. Do you agree?
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8 Comments
I've been to a few of ya'll shindigs…and for real, ya'lls get down!!! I got side-eyed because I wasn't drinking enough!!!
Luvvie you're awesome! I smiled reading this cause yes 300-800 at any party is normal. Baby's 1st birthday parties are RIDICULOUS, cause the kid will be long passed out but folks will still be drinking Guiness, Heineken, and Beck's (none of that cheap stuff) till 4 in the morning. My cuz's wedding had about 1000 guests. I tell non-Naija's that and they look at me crazy, I'm like "What? It easily could have been 1500. We roll deep." There are rental halls back in MD that Naija's have been banned from because we party to much, let someone open up a new venue…it's a wrap. Most young Naija women can be BOMB party planners cause we've been doing it since we were like 7 years old, real talk.
Man we give thanksgiving in church and it's a party.
We need to tell some of these folks that think they're stuntin, wanna see how it's done? Then watch Naija's do them.
Great article……..
I have not been to Naija parties in ages, ages.
I'm going to party harddddddd when next I'm in 9ja.
Thank you……
Let me start by saying "Thanks for posting a pix of my cupcake and I", We look fabulous……… I have some corrections to Luvvie's blog.
1. Naming ceremony is 8 days after the baby is born.
2. A good nigerian attire i.e Lace,Gele,shoe&purse/jewellry would cost you about $2000.00 if you wanna do it average.
3. Yes, Grandma’s b-day was 3days not 2days like Luvvie said. the 1st day was thanksgiving at church, 2nd day was a couple of church choirs singing/dancing at our house(Iya Onisoji), 3rd day was the actual get down, boogie down, making it rain kinda party.
4. We tend to party till 8am or 9am if necessary. I once went to a nigerian party and left at 8am in the morning…..It was mad fun…….
OMG cupcaaaakeee! Hello, wallpaper! She's adorable!
ho shoot…I shoulda been born Nigerian…I love to party. Gotta find me a nigerian bf
HOLLA
Wow! I learn something new everyday. Fun times, indeed!
I came here from VSB and started wondering if you were Nigerian cuz I read your mum's birthday post and saw her in gele. The "classless wonder" thing had me rolling, no joke. And then I found this post and it was a wrap!
You're Nigerian!! For some reason I find that very exciting haha. I am too, hence the excitement.
Love the post by the way, my friends never believe me when I tell them about the spraying, smh.
I'll be back for sure!
PS: Your niece is soooo cute, dang!
PPS: You need to apply to the AKeys gig for sure! The worst that'll happen is she'll say no. Mehh its #ontothenextone