DAILY GIST earlier reported that the Former President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Pinnick called out Afrobeat singer, Davido, for failing to perform at an event despite being paid $94,600.
Pinnick, a in a video making the rounds on social media stopped short of expressing his dismay at the alleged unprofessional attitude of the music icon who was absent at the Warri again event in Delta State held on Friday, 6th of October, 2023.
Davido, who had performed at several global sporting events in the past, according to Amaju, was paid $94,600 for his performance at the event and a chartered plane was arranged to convey him and his crew to the state. He added that the payment has been made since April 6th, 2023.
Davido who was intended to be the headline act at the event was replaced with “Evien” crooner Shallipopi
Amaju Pinnick while speaking to the audience expressed his utmost displeasure toward Davido while adding that the “Feel” crooner won’t be allowed to perform in Warri henceforth.
Pinnick who had a tumultuous time in charge of the Nigeria Football Federation accused Davido of being arrogant and insisted that Burnaboy is a bigger artiste than the DMW boss
Reacting in what appears like a shade on the former boss of the Glass House; NFF headquarters, Davido wrote via his X handle, “Throwing stones but u dey live for glass house.”
In another post, Davido bragged that nobody could stop him from performing anywhere in Nigeria, assuring his fans in Warri that he would be in their city soon.
“Nobody can stop me from performing anywhere in Nigeria… Warri I will see you soon,” he wrote.
He also posted a picture of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, logo with the caption; “Make I no talk.”
However, the real reason the Nigerian singer failed to show up for the event despite being paid in advance has been uncovered.
DAILY GIST reports that the Afrobeats star was absent from the Warri event because he fixed and promoted two separate shows in Nigeria (the Warri event) and Australia (Melbourne) for the same day, 6 October.
Davido promoted the two events in separate videos, telling his supporters to come out as he could not wait to have a “timeless time” with them.
“I am gonna be live at Lux Club on the 6 October in Melbourne, Australia,” Davido said in a video shared by his promoters on Instagram. “All the fans come out and all the beautiful people I want to see you guys. See you guys soon,” he said.
Soon after, he recorded another video telling his supporters to join him live in Warri. “I will be live in Warri on 6 October,” the artist said, adding that it’s going to be a shutdown at the Warri Again Independence Show. “I can’t wait to see all the fans,” he said. “We are going to have a timeless time.”
On Friday of October 6th, the musician performed at Lux Club in Australia but failed to honour the concert in Warri, an event for which he was paid N70 million to perform.
It was gathered that Davido’s company signed a performance agreement with BrownHill Event Inc, owned by Mr Pinnick, on 30 March 2023, committing the musician to performing in Warri on 6 October.
The contract was signed by the musician’s agent, Soso Soberekon, indicating the singer would perform for at least “55 or 60 minutes at the event.” Victor Wokocha endorsed the agreement for Brownhill, while a certain Cecil Bekederemo signed as a witness.
Days after signing the agreement, Davido was paid, with Mr Soberekon acknowledging receipt of the payment on 6 April 2023.
It remains unclear at what point the musician pulled out of an agreement he signed and a commitment he made after receiving payment. Whether he communicated his preference to head to Australia instead of honouring the Warri appointment to BrownHill also remains unclear.
Afrobeats, Davido’s main musical genre, is driving Africa’s music industry. In 2022, the region’s music revenue surged by $94 million, according to a recording industry organisation, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).
Pinnick, a member of CAF and FIFA Executive Committees called Davido out on Friday night, saying he and the other organisers paid $94,000 to the singer in April and booked an $18,000 chartered flight for him to perform at the event in Warri.
Aside from making payments, the organisers said they went ahead to engage sponsors, make promotional adverts, tickets, and other crucial preparations prompted by the artist’s intention to perform at the Warri Again Independence Show.
On 29 September, a week before the concert, organisers sent a letter to officially remind Davido of the show.
“You are billed to perform at this show as the headline artist resulting from the execution of the Performance Agreement you signed on 30 March 2023, which led us to make payment for the sum of $94,500 that was paid in full as performance fee upon execution of the Performance Agreement,” the letter read.
“We have met all our obligations under the said contract, and we expect to see you at the show come 6th of October 2023,” the letter addressed to Davido read.
Based on the performance contract, it was gathered that Davido is obligated to refund the organisers of the show within the next fourteen days.
“In the event of a cancellation or postponement due to the wilful negligence of or intention of the Artist, the Artist agrees to refund any deposit paid within 14 days of the event date passing and the Artist is required to pay for any damages accruing for his actions.”
Reacting in a statement after the show, the management team of the Warri Again Concerts said Davido’s failure to perform at the concert “despite having received full payment and logistics made available to guarantee his attendance is quite unfortunate.
The statement was signed by Mr Wokocha, the project director of Brownhill Events.
“Our legal team has been fully briefed and will advise on the next,” the group said.
In a post via his Instagram story on Sunday, Davido said he had notified the event organisers in advance that he wouldn’t be able to attend.
He said despite this, they persisted in promoting the show using his name.
“To my lovely fans in Warri that spent their hard-earned money to come out apologies that you had to experience this.
“I was not going to be physically able to make it and this had been communicated to ‘them’ for a longgggg while now I mean MONTHS ago but for reasons best known to them, they continued to promote the show using my name. It’s a shame.
“But especially for my fans out there, don’t worry, you know I gotta bring Timeless to Delta State. We will do it proper, bigger and better,” he wrote.
