Why Naira Marley’s Valentine Concert in Cameroon Got Cancelled
On the 14th of February, 2021, Popular Nigerian rapper Azeez Adeshina Fashola, professionally known as Naira Marley, was billed to perform at a Valentine Concert in Central African country, Cameroon, but the highly anticipated concert was postponed twice and was later cancelled by the country’s special forces soldiers.
According to the show promoter, Prince Enobi, the event which was initially scheduled to hold in the Buea region was moved to Limbe but was unable to hold due to refusal from local authorities.
In a statement released by Enobi, he said
“It’s been days and hours of back and forth to put together this amazing Valentine Experience with African Superstar, Naira Marley. Almost 80% tickets have been SOLD OUT but for reasons beyond our control, we can’t have the concert. We apologize to all Naira Marley Fans who have bought tickets to attend this event which has been cancelled twice.”
A video of Naira Marley apologizing and assuring fans of a reschedule has been posted by the promoter to pacify anxious fans. In the end, the show failed to hold and Marley had to apologize to his fans.
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And Mykel Enobi, the show promoter says, “The problem has nothing to do with me. I wouldn’t want to mention names, but two weeks before the event, people started these claims that Naira Marley was a weed smoker and strong pillar of the EndSARS movement. The government had pictures and even videos – I don’t know how they got them.
“We thought we could manage it, until we had to move to Limbe barely 24 hours before show. From there, we then rescheduled to Douala. This isn’t the first time I’ll bring a Nigerian artist to Cameroon and this isn’t the first time I’ll lose money. I also don’t regret anything I said on ‘Freaky Table.’
“The solution to Cameroonian problems isn’t a ban on all things Nigerian. I’m a businessman, I will only do things that favour me and things that will bring me money. Naira Marley is a big brand who will bring in money for me and my sponsors. Why would I not want him?“
However, Nigerian music journalist, Joey Akan has stated that the Naira Marley concert was cancelled due to jealousy on the part of Cameroonian entertainers who are displeased with the traction Nigerian music and musicians have in the country.
Yesterday, a Naira Marley concert scheduled to hold in Cameroon, didn’t happen. Special Forces Soldiers flooded the venue, scattered it, and chased everyone away, despite Marley being in the country, and ready to hit the stage. Why?
Hate and beef from Cameroonian artists.
For months, there has been a growing anti-Nigerian movement, with many disgruntled entertainers calling for a ban on Nigerian music. This movement is led by a struggling comedian named CY International.
A promoter named Prince Enobi, organized a special Valentine’s Day concert.
Naira Marley was booked, to perform in Buea, the capital of the Southwest region. The heart of Anglophone Cameroon. Expensive tickets were sold out, and event was set.
But the show did not hold. Cameroon entertainers kicked. They went to Yaounde to ask government to ban it.
They banded, went to the minister of Arts and Culture to ban the concert. Their excuse; Naira Marley is a bad influence on Cameroonian youth, who smokes Igbeaux, and has a sex tape. The minister cancelled the show in Buea. But the Promoter was adamant. He’s invested heavily.
He moved the show from Buea to Limbe. These entertainers still went to call the special forces arm of the military. They showed up and scattered the stage and venue. Promoter still moved show to Douala, the entertainers still showed up there and scattered the venue.
Naira Marley didn’t perform, but he’s been paid. He lands Nigeria today. What this means is that the Cameroonians have declared war on the Nigerian music industry, and have acted on it due to hate and inferiority complex. They blame us for everything.
Pan Africanism in the mud.
Yesterday, a Naira Marley concert scheduled to hold in Cameroon, didn’t happen. Special Forces Soldiers flooded the venue, scattered it, and chased everyone away, despite Marley being in the country, and ready to hit the stage. Why?
Hate and beef from Cameroonian artists.
— Joey Akan (@JoeyAkan) February 15, 2021
Another Nigerian music journalist and music editor for Pulse Nigeria, Motolani Alake, wrote an interesting article that gives details of the ugly tribal politics and anti-Nigerian sentiment behind Naira Marley’s cancelled February 14 show in Cameroon HERE.