The rising star has kept Nigeria in her heart as she climbs the charts
The Homecoming Festival, a 4-day cultural exchange aiming to connect African creatives, showcases bold artists all around the city. In the past, the Homecoming Festival has watched young artists come together to participate in each other’s work, like Jordyn Woods, who received a stunning portrait from a Nigerian artist The festival has partnered with several brands including TikTok, Jameson, Kuda, Power Horse, and MTV. Exciting names will be on the scene, including Asake and BNXN (Buju). Arguably the most exciting performance will be that of Deto Black’s.
The 26-year-old Lagos native, musician and fashion muse has been taking the industry by storm with out of this world music that she attests “has that shock factor” With two degrees, an undergrad in social anthropology and a master's in global governance, her lyrics comment on the sociopolitical dynamics that take place in Nigeria and its diaspora.
Deto Black’s Rise to Fame
Before releasing her breakout album, Yung Everything, Deto had already been in the public eye due to her social media presence. As a creative director, writer, filmmaker, and musician, it was inevitable for her to find success. She got involved with the creative scene in Lagos, meeting fellow creatives, including fashion designer and singer Mowalola, and Odunsi the Engine. It was after doing a feature on Odusni’s Alté track, Body Count, that Deto Black’s music career took off.
What she had believed was just a casual freestyle between friends garnered her international attention. Since the release of Body Count in 2020, Black has collaborated with various artists including Alté singer-songwriter Amaarae and grime pioneer Skepta. In fact, promising rumours suggest that a Skepta-produced Deto track, as well as an all-female album, could be in the works. Now that he has retired from performing in order to dedicate himself to producing, we could be hearing some new music from prophetic female artists, with Black being the first on the list.
The news hit last summer, shortly after Skepta held his final album release party at the Hippodrome Casino for All In. Deto Black, among other artists, were on the scene and dressed to the nines. Since then, little new information has come to light about their forthcoming collaborations, but the fashion looks are still on our minds. As it is customary to arrive best dressed at the Hippodrome Casino, artists did not disappoint. Having been open for over more than a century, the Hippodrome Casino has had a reputation for sophisticated attire. Considering the culture of nightclubs and casinos, it’s interesting to reflect on how much fashion has changed over the years. Where patrons once wore velvet masks or cowboy boots on a night out, modern artists like Black follow their own style cues, in her case dressing in homage to popular Nollywood icons.
Y2K Nollywood Fashion’s Influence on Deto Black
Wigs are a key accessory in Nollywood films
While Nollywood films were not as appreciated by young people back in the day, the nostalgia they convey today resonates with millennial creatives. Who couldn’t be inspired by heavily patterned animal print jackets, body con mini skirts and matching halter necks? Let’s not forget the funky accessories like mini handbags, chunky cell phones, choker necklaces, colourful sunglasses, and the unforgettable wigs. All these elements inspired artists like Deto Black to create the bulk of her work.
While the aesthetics of Y2K Nollywood are jaw-dropping eye candy all on their own, the themes in these films also speak to Black’s creative focus in dealing with the topics of feminism, love, and sisterhood. Nollywood films depict multi-faceted female characters who had agency in their lives. The aesthetics, style, and wardrobe in Nollywood pictures acted as a layer of artistic expression for women in Western Africa.
From her music to her wardrobe, Deto Black always pays an homage to the ladies of Nollywood, and by extension the creative scene of Lagos.
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