It has been
alleged that EME music (Banky W, Wizkid and Skales) took money for shows in the
USA and Canada and never showed up for the concert. An angry fan that had lost
$100 to EME music is bitter about the new scam and narrates his ordeal to us;
he claimed that Banky W did the same thing in 2011 and again in 2012.
Collecting money for show and never showing up with Wizkid and Skales. : “It all
started in 2011, They were to visit many cities including San Jose in my
California. The California show was scheduled for 23 July 2011. The show was to
be done by California promoting team, Royal Entertainment. Royal Entertainment
made an event page on Facebook and was promoting the event on Twitter.
Promoters drove distances in northern California, and went as far south as Los
Angeles (almost 1.5 hours flight/7-hour drive), selling tickets and handing out
flyers. It was, hands down, the most hyped event of the year. Hundreds of
people purchased tickets immediately, scheduled flights, called off work and
made plans with friends and family to attend what was to be California's
biggest show. News broke on 22 June, just two days shy of the first show in Washington
DC that the DC show had been cancelled and that shows in the remaining cities
were indefinitely postponed. Rumor had it that Wizkid and Skales were denied US
visas. This was never confirmed by anyone of EME. Nonetheless, Banky W issued
an apology: “As far as the EME tour goes… it hurts me to say we tried our very best
to pull it off. We did everything we were supposed to. Twice. Truth is, there were some issues that are beyond our control,
and we kept pushing, trying to resolve 'em. We worked
hard and spent a sh*t load of money in the process… but it wasn't under our control. In anycase, we're STILL
working on resolving said issues. And the minute they are, we'll launch a
couple of make up dates immediately. I want to give a shoutout to all the fans
who have been so patient with us. I promise, we're trying our very best. It
sucks but we're trying. They say "U live and U learn". We've learnt
too many painful lessons from this whole experience. We'll be back stronger in
Jesus Name. If you bought tickets already, ur entitled to a full refund. Trust
me we'd rather be rocking with u than losing money, so pls understand. And
lastly, we will resolve these issues we're having. And the minute we do, we'll
put together a couple of make up dates. I'll be the first to let you know when
that's happening, I promise'. Thank you, I'm very very sorry. But I promise
we'll make it up. Stick with us we'll make this work.
Please see
the bolded in the apology; I will explain the red later. Banky W,
representative of EME, promised a full refund. That show was scheduled for 23
July 2011. It is now 15 August 2012. I have not received any refund from EME. I
paid online, so the $100 I paid should have gone straight back to my account. I
haven't seen anything. Over the last year, I have mercilessly hassled Royal
Entertainment for my refund but only encountered dead ends. The money I sent
went to EME and not Royal Entertainment. They were just as in the dark as I
was. I become frustrated and considered my money lost. Fast forward to July of
2012. Wizkid, Skales and crew were in the US again for a few shows. Within
time, another EME Tour was announced, and more shows were added to the EME
schedule. This year's California show was to be scheduled for 17 August 2012,
this time, in Oakland, CA. Note this: Royal Entertainment did not contact EME
for a California show. Rather, EME contacted Eche Emole, promoter for Royal
Entertainment. Wizkid, Skales, and Banky W have been doing an EME Tour in the
United States this summer. They have performed in states such as New York,
Rhode Island, and Minnesota. California's concert was scheduled for the 17th of
August at New Karibbean City in Oakland, CA. There are pictures of Skales' and
Wizkid's tweets, confirming the show below. Yesterday, 14 August 2012, Royal
Entertainment got a phone call from EME. Their show in Oakland, CA, along with
the show(s) in Canada had been cancelled. Reason? These are the words of EME:
"Something huge came up. We can't perform in your city or even Canada this
weekend. We are sorry but this is huge." Here is Banky W's apology for the
2012 cancellation, taken from twitter: Hey folks... The Cali and Canada stops on
the tour have unfortunately been canceled. Due to
circumstances way beyond anyone's control. Truthfully it takes a lot to
put on a tour. A million & one factors go into it. Along the way, sadly,
sometimes, inevitably, things go wrong. And when it's
out of your control, There's not much you can do about it at that point
but learn lessons & do better next time. Truth be told, we take a pay cut while attempting something like this.
A serious one. But that's okay cuz of the love the fans have shown us and the
love we have for them in return. We're not in the business of blame games and
pointing fingers. When poo hits the fan, we all look bad. So our sincere
deepest apologies go to the fans in Cali & Canada, who wanted to be at the
shows.. You will get refunded 100% for
ur tickets. On behalf of EME and the promoters, we're all very sorry
about Cali and Canada. We will work tirelessly to make this up to the fans
there. With that being said DC, Chicago and ATL will definitely still be
happening & We'll do our absolute best 2 make them the best shows possible.
We really do appreciate all of the support, love and even the criticism. We're
working to make sure yall remain proud of us. Thank you. Thank u very much for
your understanding. We appreciate you all. And we don't take any of you for
granted. We wouldn't be here without yall. Like I said, DC, Chicago, and atlanta
will still be happening; and we're going to put on the best shows possible for
you guys there. Thanks again. God bless y'all. God go make all of us bigger.
We're grateful and we Love y'all forever for sticking with us.
Do take note of the bolded. I am doubtful of
this year's refund situation. I only hope that this year's fans are not victims
of fraud like myself and others in 2011. As for the red, I highlighted them to
show the similarities between the 2012 apology and the 2011 apology. Either he
copied/pasted/paraphrased last year's apology or they have mastered
disappointing fans. I am not only disappointed. I am crushed. I have been for
over a year now. As for the promoters? Words cannot describe the stabbing in
the back they have received. Banky W said "we don't take any of you for
granted". Lie. As you saw, the reason EME gave for the canceled California
show was beyond vague. They were no longer picking calls from the promoters.
One of them, @ogidika, took to twitter and asked why the show was canceled.
Both Wizkid and Skales blocked him immediately. The promoter was not the only
one blocked. Wizkid, or whomever controlled his account yesterday, blocked
everyone asking questions about the show in California. So much for "we
love y'all forever". Just like that. 2 years in a row, Royal Entertainment
and Californians have been...
screwed by Wizkid, Skales, Banky W, and the rest.
Refunds from the 2011 show have not been issued. Flight tickets are
unrefundable. If it was just one year, then fine. That one was understandable.
We swallowed that pill and moved on (most of us anyway; I was persistantly
asking for my refund). Two years in a row with the lamest of explanations is
unfair, disrespectful, and unprofessional. So, there you have it. You think
it's only drug and sex traffickers tarnishing Nigeria's name. Entertainers have
followed suit. Calling EME fraudulent isn't even an understatement. They are
the new 419. If they haven't refunded anyone from last year's cancelled tour,
how will they refund people from this year? A lot of tickets were purchased
because of Wizkid's multiple confirmations on his twitter page. California is
angry and disappointed. Good luck to them ever getting booked for another show
on our soil ever again. New developments. Apparently
Banky W and EME knew from the beginning that the California and Canada shows
would be cancelled. Still, they (Wizkid, Banky W, and Skales) kept hyping the
events, and had the promoters doing the same, leading to more concert and
flight tickets purchased.
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