A legendary international promoter of repute, Tunde Osinibosi, popularly known as Laface, has jumped on the ongoing saga between one of the biggest Nigerian hip-hop singer, Kizz Daniel, (KD) and a Tanzania-based show promoter, Stephen Uwa.
Freelanews recalls that the Buga-crooner was recently arrested and released when it was alleged that he refused to perform at a show already paid for because of a missing gold chain.
In a lengthy post titled The Kizz Daniel saga, a no case submission, Laface believes the promoter involved was unprofessional and possibly a rookie.
Read below.
The story making the rounds on the Kizz Daniel’s Tanzania saga still baffles me and sincerely I find it very difficult to believe the innuendoes surrounding it to say the least.
As a legendary international promoter and an astute professional, it is believed that he who hears a one sided story could not have confirmed the true version of the real story and the underlying factors.
I have, therefore, taken my time to properly analyse and review the story from both sides; Kizz Daniel and our fellow Naija brother, the promoter, Stephen Uwa.
Both parties have brands to protect with KD being obviously the globally acclaimed brand.
Going into to the crust of the matter as stated by KD’s brother and road manager, Folu and eventual admission by Uwa that all the terms of the contract were adhered to on artiste’s own part.
There was even an added clause that the gig can be rescheduled incase of situations beyond both parties’ control.
The artiste, KD, did not book the said tickets for the flight that was delayed for eight hours in Kenya but the promoter himself did and it was also admitted that there was also constant communication between both parties for possible solution all through the delay.
So the outcry that KD refused to perform because of his chain was totally false as the promoter grudgingly attested to.
The challenge for KD’s team caused by the promoter was his inability and non adherence to the technical rider deliverables as agreed; it is very obvious that Mr. Uwa is a rookie promoter from all indications.
An experienced promoter basically knows that Promo 101 states that no professional artiste is obligated to perform with sub-standard equipment, which will affect his performance and ultimately his brand.
Hence, the need for a technical rider whose words must be completely adhered to and failure of which automatically puts the show in jeopardy. This was what happened as Uwa finally agreed publicly.
At a point, after endless pleas by Uwa, KD even decided to take the risk at his own brand’s detriment to manage the sub-standard equipments. But it was too late; all hell had broken loose at the venue and there was virtually nothing he could do to salvage the situation.
In his quest to get attention and save his business and career in East Africa, I will say from experience, Uwa colluded with some bad elements in the Tanzanian police and decided to make KD the fall guy by throwing him under the moving train.
He thus went to town with the gold chain theory, which created the desired attention and sympathy for him.
When the chips were down, Folu confronted Uwa on the major reasons for the crisis and Uwa had nothing to say but that an agreement has been reached by both parties and that it was imperative to move on!
There were also issues around a sum of 4000USD used to purchase flight tickets. This meant that KD was not fully paid 60000USD has earlier claimed by Uwa.
From experience flight tickets are never part of artiste’s fees. This resulted in issues between the booking agent, Paulo, and KD on one hand, then Uwa and Paulo on the other hand.
KD is a young and very talented brand as proven over the years. He must learn from this saga that there is a very thin line between LOVE and HATE.
Going forward, KD and his team need to step it up by drawing up a more detailed performance contract where technical rider’s requirements must be completely adhered to as a precondition to any contract. The issue of agreeing to fund expenses when and if the gig is postponed is not advisable.
Also there is need for an escrow account with the two represented by their lawyers.
It is advisable to always get to a continental gig a day earlier. This leaves room for flight delays, or better still, engage the use of private jets when the schedule is crazily tight.
In conclusion, the implication of this saga is that the KD brand has taken a very bad PR knock due to no fault of its management. The artiste and his team have the enormous task of creating a PR campaign to ameliorate the situation as its very difficult to change people’s perception once the bad narrative is out there.
KD, I must state has been a great ambassador to the Nigerian entertainment industry and will implore him to continue propagating Nigerian music globally but be very wary of rookie promoters.
My sincere regards must also go to my brother and friend, Daddy Freeze, for the role he played in getting the truth out there; great job bro!
Long LIVE the Naija Entertainment Industry!
Long LIVE the KIZZ DANIEL Brand!
Drop your comments on this in the section below.
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator and a recipient of the D9112 Superstar Icon Award, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
