The highly anticipated live show featuring Nigerian artist Burna Boy at South Africa’s FNB Stadium has been marred by a series of setbacks, including allegations of fraud and production-related issues.
Initially scheduled for September 23, the event has faced multiple challenges and has been postponed to December 2023.
Rumors of poor ticket sales initially led to concerns about the show’s viability, but the situation took a more dramatic turn when promoter Ternary Media Group postponed the concert due to pending legal proceedings involving CEO Sedote Nwachukwu.
Nwachukwu has been accused of embezzling R10 million (£435,000) from the company by his business partner, Gregory Wings.
Nwachukwu vehemently denies the allegations, asserting that Wings misappropriated 6,000 of the 11,000 tickets sold through Ticketpro, distributing them in nightclubs and on campuses without his consent.
Wings, in response, reported that over R8 million was transferred to Nwachukwu’s US bank account without his authorization.
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South African authorities have initiated an investigation into the allegations of fraud.
Meanwhile, Burna Boy’s management expressed deep regret over the cancellation of the September 23rd show, citing the promoters’ inability to fulfill contractual, production, financial, and technical obligations. Refunds for ticket holders are being processed.
The concert, initially rescheduled for December 16, faces further uncertainty as FNB Stadium officials indicate that no contract has been signed for the new date.
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Despite these challenges, Burna Boy’s management team and the artist himself remain hopeful about a future visit to South Africa, expressing gratitude for the support from his fans and looking forward to seeing them soon.
Burna Boy’s recent global success, including a sold-out stadium show in the UK, underscores his growing popularity, while his seventh studio album, ‘I Told Them…’, continues to gain recognition.
TicketPro, the ticketing platform for the event, has provided details about the refund process for disappointed ticket holders.
Amidst the uncertainties, Burna Boy’s message of love and appreciation for his South African fans remains strong, and he promises a return visit, stating, “I was in SA last year, and I had 100,000 of the most beautiful South Africans outside for me. I will see you again real soon, South Africa. I love you.”
Burna Boy’s resilience in the face of adversity demonstrates his commitment to his art and his fans, no matter the challenges he encounters along the way.
Fans online began to highlight South Africa’s Cassper Nyovest’s sucesses compared to Nigeria’s Burna Boy claiming Cassper is the real star.
@celeb_undercovr said, “Cassper has been filling out venues all over South Africa while Burna Boy couldn’t selll tickets. It shows whose the actual star in SA.”
Adding,” Burna Boy is simply not a star in SA, but we congratulate him for the success he is internationally, his crowd is there, not here.”
The situation ignited discussions over why artists like Burna Boy find it easeier to sell out arenas outside Africa while facing challnges within the continent.
