Karim Ouattara, the organiser of the Abidjan Laguna show, has revealed why Asake and Ayra Starr were withdrawn from performing at their event.
In a recent interview with the La Nouvelle Chaîne Ivorienne, Outtarra disclosed that both artistes had been paid 50% upfront for their performances.
He said Asake, however, demanded a private jet to pick him up in Los Angeles, take him to Lagos, Abidjan, and then back to Lagos.
Asake’s request, according to Outtarra, did not go down well with the show’s sponsors, leading to his removal from the headlining artistes.
He said Ayra, on the other hand, was scheduled to travel to the event with a commercial flight but later requested a private jet after her Grammy nomination.
She too was scheduled to be picked up in Lagos, but later asked that it be changed to Los Angeles.
“Both Asake and Ayra Starr received a 50% advance payment before the show. Asake received €175,000 from €350,000 while Ayra Star got €75,000 from €150,000 initially agreed upon,” he said.
“Asake was to be brought to Abidjan with a private jet to perform but it was supposed to pick him from Lagos. After the Grammys, Asake then requested that the private jet should come pick him up in Los Angeles, which is a 13-hour flight.
“Then the jet would bring him first to Lagos before coming to Abidjan then take him back to Lagos. I said that is enough, I was sufficiently patient with you. I have asked for a drop and it is fine but I can pay for a jet taxi, it is impossible. Tell Asake we are going to cancel and that is how we cancelled Asake.
“With Ayra Starr, the jet was never in question. She was supposed to take a commercial flight to the event. She had come to a Marvel Africa event before and she took a commercial flight.
“After being nominated for the Grammy, she requested a private jet to pick her up from Lagos and I said no problem because we had cancelled Asake and we had a jet in advance.
“But the jet would be taken from Lagos and not Los Angeles. Ayra then said the jet should come pick her up in Los Angeles and I said, no I can not do this, then we canceled her too.”
