Ghanaian musicians, Shatta Wale and Wiyaala were booked to perform at the Summer Stage NYC but things did not go on as planned.
Wiyaala took to her social media page to complain bitterly on how Shatta Wale’s team disrespected her.
According to her, the award was supposed to be given on stage in presence of the crowd but Shatta’s team managed to convince the award giver to give hers behind stage.
In a lengthy post she wrote; “At approximately 6pm 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 back 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.
Vanessa then immediately vacated the stage without calling Wiyaala forward. Wiyaala was then told she would receive her award back stage.
Wiyaala refused to accept the award under these circumstances and left Crotona Park for her hotel.
Vanessa was challenged by members of Wiyaala’s team as to why she had not been called forward to receive her Citation 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 does not accept awards or citations from any organization backstage.
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.
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.
This is what happened and we now move on. Cased closed, good night #Roarrrrrr 🦁🌍🦁✌🏾“
