Karim Ouattara, the organizer and promoter of the Abidjan Laguna show, has addressed the challenges he faced while attempting to secure the participation of Asake and Ayra Starr.
In a recent interview with La Nouvelle Chaîne Ivorienne, Ouattara revealed that both artists had been paid 50% (€75,000) in advance for their performances. As reported by The Cable Lifestyle, Ouattara explained that Asake, who was in Los Angeles for the Grammy Awards, insisted on a private jet to transport him from Los Angeles to Lagos, Abidjan, and then back to Lagos.
https://twitter.com/itzbasito/status/1763504585077846366
“Asake was paid €175,000 (50% advance) to perform in Abidjan with a private jet. Few days to Grammy night, Asake requested that the private jet should come pick him up in Los Angeles, take him Lagos, to Abidjan then take him back to Lagos and from there to his next destination.… pic.twitter.com/mhBnUyURGb
— BASITO (@itzbasito) March 1, 2024
Despite Asake receiving a 50% upfront payment of €175,000 out of the agreed €350,000, his insistence on a private jet for travel arrangements proved unfeasible, leading to his withdrawal from the event.
Ayra Starr, who also received a 50% upfront payment, was initially scheduled to travel on a commercial flight. However, after her Grammy nomination, she requested a private jet. Although she initially specified Lagos as her pickup location, she later changed it to Los Angeles.
https://twitter.com/itzbasito/status/1763504591805513861
“Ayra Starr was also paid €75,000 (50% advance) to perform in Abidjan, she was supposed to take a commercial flight to Abidjan. Few days to Grammy night, she requested if she can get a private jet and I said no problem since we already paid for a PJ for Asake and he’s cancelled,…
— BASITO (@itzbasito) March 1, 2024
According to the video circulating on social media, Karim Ouattara said “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 to pick her up in Los Angeles and I said, no I can not do this, then we cancelled her too”.
