Wiyaala accuses Shatta Wale’s team of blocking her award on stage in New York.
She alleged on her Facebook page after incident, claiming that Shatta Wale and his team prevented her from receiving her award on Summer Stage with him after performing in Bronx NYC.
detailing how and why she did not receive her award on stage as per the initial agreement, Wiyaala demanded from the dancehall artist Shatta Wale should account for his involvement in the incident.
She wrote on Facebook:
“At approximately 6 pm 13th August, Wiyaala was advised that she and Shatta Wale would be presented with a Citation of Merit by Vanessa L Gibson, President of The Bronx Borough on stage during an interval in his performance at @SummerStageNYC. At about 8.15 pm, Shatta wale’s performance was paused, and Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson and Wiyaala went to the back of the stage for the presentation of the citations. Vanessa went forward to do the presentation whilst an unknown person advised Wiyaala to wait. The presentation was made to Shatta Wale.”
According to the Afro-pop and traditional song-writer and singer account, initially, this mishap was attributed to the organiser (Summer Stage). Later, a confession from the awarder, Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson, revealed that Shatta Wale’s team was behind the plot to prevent Wiyaala from receiving her award on stage with their idol.
“On stage. Initially, Vanessa blamed the organisers(SummerStage NYC) but eventually said that she had been blocked from calling Wiyaala forward by Team Shatta Wale.”
Wiyaala is seeking clarification about the whole incident. Accordingly, the internationally-awarded Afropop star refused to accept her award nicodemusly backstage. She has demanded an explanation from Shatta Wale’s team and an apology from Vanessa L. Gibson.
“Wiyaala respectfully requests that Team Shatta Wale confirm if they did block Wiyaala coming on stage to receive her citation at the same time as Shatta Wale. And if they did no such thing, then Vanessa L Gibson should account for why she disrespected Wiyaala in this manner on a night of supposed unity and mutual support.
“Unless acceptable and credible explanations are forthcoming, Wiyaala has no intention of accepting the Citation of Merit, supposedly awarded her by the Bronx Borough.”
Meanwhile as this news of misconduct and disrespect is buzzing online, some social media user and media personnels took a stand giving their take on the issue against the Afro-pop singer Wiyaala.
UNNews Chief Editor, Ben Dotsei Malor, also reacting to the post wrote: “This is appalling, awful, and disrespectful, and must be condemned. Did Shatta Wale and his team actually prevent the presentation of the award to their Sister Wiyaala?
“What did the organizers do about this? Clearly, someone needs to render an unqualified apology – though I know Wiyaala is too good to live (or perform) for awards. “Dear Wiyaala: thank you for saying, “We now move on. Case closed.” That’s maturity, stability, and wisdom. Sorry for what they did. They are wrong. Keep strong. Keep on excelling. Keep on roaring. “Dear Zoe Baraka: thank you for alerting us, (Elsie Dickson) about this. Thank you for being there to support, and enjoy.”
And the council member of Borough, Vanessa L. Gibson reacted to Wiyaala’s post saying she had no intention disrecpting any artists, and stated she did only what she was asked by one of the organizers of the show to attend and present BOTH artists with a Citation from the Bronx.
“This is completely not my fault and I will not allow anyone to accuse me of being disrespectful when I in fact was only doing what I was told. Especially a woman of color. I would never do that and in fact had a lovely conversation with Wiyaala.” Vanessa also recalls been verbally attacked by one Artist’s staff, and how Summer Stage was yelling at her even for been there on stage presenting an Award without their approval in her own Borough.
” I don’t operate like that at all. Complete unacceptable. I apologize for any role I played in this but was only following the orders of what I was told. I wish both Artists the very best in their careers.”
Check out some social media users comments:
, I mean pure Grammy is Wiyaala why because her craft is beyond africa, this is what happens all the time in this industry not only music but movie too , I see a lot pass.
