WizKid‘s life may be good, but it’s about to get complicated. The Nigerian musician is going to be slapped with a whopping $1 million lawsuit for missing his weekend Kampala show.
According to an insider, officials from Star Times and Face TV are contemplating filing a breach of contract lawsuit and is seeking compensatory damages. StarTimes says that Wizkid was scheduled to perform for not showing up for Lugogo cricket Oval scheduled for tomorrow, but instead decided to keep in Los Angeles on a music video shoot.
The ‘Ojuelegba’ artiste was earlier reported to have been booked into Golf Course at 11pm but on reaching there, employees didn’t know of that arrangement. It was also reported that he was going to have a press conference at Star Times offices at 11am but when journalists reached there no activity taking place.
While venting his frustration, fans who had already bought concert tickets at a whopping UShs 100,000 ($27) vowed to make the payTV providers refund them or a new date announced soon enough.
“We are still in touch with Wizkid to consider a later date which will be communicated,” StarTimes’ Vice President for Uganda Aldrine Nsubuga told us.
In July, Wizkid had been scheduled to perform alongside Calvin Harris, The 1975, DJ Charlesy, 99 Souls at the 2016 edition of the Wireless Music Festival in London but didn‘t turn up. He had earlier in May also missed his show at Silver Stadium in Lilongwe Malai on 4th June over money issues though Black Rhyno Entertainment, the promoters excused themselves saying another international concert involving South Africa’s Mi Casa, was happening on the same date in the capital city.
Wizkid, born Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, started his musical career at age 11, releasing a collaborative album with Glorious Five entitled Lil Prinz (2001). In 2009, he signed a record deal with Banky W’s imprint Empire Mates Entertainment. He rose to prominence in 2010 with the release of “Holla at Your Boy”.
Wizkid’s self-titled second studio album, Ayo released in 2014, was preceded by the singles “JaiyeJaiye”, “On Top Your Matter”, “One Question”, “Joy”, “Bombay” and “Show You The Money”.
In addition to his solo work, Wizkid has collaborated with several artists and was featured on the hits “Girl” (with Bracket), “Fine Lady” (with Lynxxx), “Sexy Mama” (with Iyanya), “Slow Down” (with R2Bees), “The Matter” (with Maleek Berry), “Pull Over” (with KCee) and “Bad Girl” (with Jesse Jagz).
His work and contribution to the Nigerian Music Industry has earned him several achievements, including a BET Award, a MOBO Award, three The Headies Awards, two Channel O Music Video Awards, four Nigeria Entertainment Awards, a Ghana Music Award, two Dynamix All Youth Awards, two City People Entertainment Awards, and a Future Award.
In addition, he has been nominated three times at the MTV Europe Music Awards as well as four times at the World Music Awards.
By Shafik Himbaza
