Nigerian pop star Tiwa Savage was invited last Saturday to perform, alongside fellow musicians Demarco (Jamaican dancehall), and Khaligraph Jones (Kenyan hip-hop), at the launch of Redsan’s fifth studio album titled Baddest. Redsan is Kenya’s leading dancehall artist.
It is unclear who the specific promoter is that bought her live performance services in Kenya. What we do know is that this Monday, after Tiwa’s performance at the venue over the weekend, Carnivore Grounds to be more specific, she took to social media, to share that she was stranded with unpaid hotel bills, and lack of transporation for herself and her crew to the airport. Her statement follows:
”Checking out of the hotel and full accommodation not paid for, no car to take us to the airport and promoters want to talk trash about artists.”
“Funny how everyone is asleep and phones are off after the show but they blow up your phone when they need you for radio and press runs before the show.”
So, a simple question is, who is Tiwa’s tour manager? Tiwa is not new to the concert promotion and touring business, as an artist. Pre-concert, as part of any live performance agreement she signed (if she signed one), she should be doing radio and press runs. That is expected of her and is her job, unless the promoter(s) failed to include such clause. But, after the concert, why is she left with the burden of figuring out travel, lodging, and transporation?
Where is her tour manager who would or should have been responsible to sort out the aforementioned logistics prior to the concert, and definitely while she is experiencing problems with the arrangements?
Also, she says the promoters did not pay for “full accomodation.” The event ended on Saturday. Was the agreement that she and her crew stay two extra nights in the hotel rather than say one extra night i.e. until Sunday? Either way, her tour manager should be at the forefront of these issues and dealing with the headache, not Tiwa.
-Ms. Uduak