Shatta Wale’s management apologizes for VGMA brawl
The management of dancehall artiste, Shatta Wale has officially apologized for the brawl that marred the 20th edition of the Ghana Music Awards event held last Saturday.
“Management of Shatta Wale wishes to render a sincere apology to all patrons of the 20th edition of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA), viewers of the event around the world, organizers of the awards, Charterhouse Productions, title sponsors, Vodafone Ghana and all Shatta Movement fans worldwide for the unfortunate incident that happened during the recently held VGMA. We further apologize for all the inconveniences caused on the night and afterwards,” a statement from Shatta Wale’s management stated.
According to the management, Shatta Wale got to the venue late “due to circumstances beyond the control of the team” and was unable to pick two awards, he had won that night, himself.
“Due to circumstances beyond the control of the team, Shatta Wale arrived at the venue after the event had started and had been announced as winner of two categories (Reggae Dancehall Song of the year and Highlife Song of the year). This accounted for Shatta Wale’s inability to receive the awards he won himself.”
“After the announcement of the winner of the Reggae Dancehall Musician of the year category, Shatta Wale decided to reposition to the VIP section to meet his father and a dignitary who had asked to see him. A member of his entourage then suggested to him to join Stonebwoy on stage to congratulate him on his win in the spirit of unity, as he had done at the 2015 4Syte Music Video awards. He agreed and asked his security team to lead him onto the stage only to be met with confrontation instigated by Blakk Cedi, Manager of Stonebwoy.”
Shatta Wale’s management also claimed that their artiste “meant no harm [to Stonebwoy] and considers this incident as unfortunate.”
Arrested
The two artistes were arrested on Sunday following a scuffle at the 2019 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards.
They have however been granted police enquiry bail after spending a night in police custody.
The awards ceremony was halted for nearly an hour over the brawl.
Some have suggested that Shatta Wale and his team walked up to the stage to congratulate Stonebwoy for an award he had won but Stonebwoy and his team who thought Shatta Wale was up to harm them resisted the gesture causing confusion at the event.
Charges
Shatta Wale has officially been charged with offensive conduct conducive to the breach of peace and Stonebwoy has been charged with use of offensive weapon, display of firearm in public and threat to harm.
Stonebwoy apologizes
Stonebwoy has apologised twice already. He apologised on stage minutes after the scuffle and in a press statement.
“I only had to react out of natural instincts because we all know how premeditative some people can be. We’ve seen on social media the threats and everything so we couldn’t come in unprepared because anything could have happened as you guys saw. I come in peace and I go in peace and I apologize to the whole masses of Ghana that the Awards is going to continue,” he said.
Charterhouse condemns brawl
Organisers of the event condemned the commotion saying it cannot be attributed to security lapses.
Head of communications at Charterhouse, George Quaye said the unfortunate incident has more to do with the grand issue of rivalries between musicians and how they are managed.
According to him, both Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy, who were the centre of the chaos failed to act responsibly by holding themselves back from taking certain actions which clearly wasn’t going to ensure peace at the event.
“Many are those who have accused Charterhouse of not putting in place adequate security to avert the situation but George Quaye said “it goes beyond that. You will expect an act to know that if I get up here, or if I do this, this is what will happen… Another act should also know that this is what is happening, or the act manager knows that this not the place where I draw out a weapon,” he said on Citi TV‘s Point of View on Monday.
We’ll handle Shatta Wale, Stonebwoy feud with needed attention – Police
The Police Service has promised to handle the case involving Shatta Wale and his rival, Stonebwoy with the attention it deserves.
“The Police in no uncertain terms condemn the disturbance and assures the public and fans that it will handle the case with the needed attention it deserves,” a statement from the Police Service said.
Below is the full statement from Shatta Wale’s management
For Immediate Release
21/05/2019
CLARIFICATION – EVENTS AT 20TH VODAFONE GHANA MUSIC AWARDSManagement of Shatta Wale wishes to render a sincere apology to all patrons of the 20th edition of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA), viewers of the event around the world, organizers of the awards, Charterhouse Productions, title sponsors, Vodafone Ghana and all Shatta Movement fans worldwide for the unfortunate incident that happened during the recently held VGMA. We further apologize for all the inconveniences caused on the night and afterwards.
As planned and communicated to the organizers on the morning of the event, Shatta Wale was going to sit amongst his fans in the standard ticket section of the auditorium. Due to circumstances beyond the control of the team, Shatta Wale arrived at the venue after the event had started and had been announced as winner of two categories (Reggae Dancehall Song of the year and Highlife Song of the year). This accounted for Shatta Wale’s inability to receive the awards he won himself.
After the announcement of the winner of the Reggae Dancehall Musician of the year category, Shatta Wale decided to reposition to the VIP section to meet his father and a dignitary who had asked to see him. A member of his entourage then suggested to him to join Stonebwoy on stage to congratulate him on his win in the spirit of unity, as he had done at the 2015 4Syte Music Video awards. He agreed and asked his security team to lead him onto the stage only to be met with confrontation instigated by Blakk Cedi, Manager of Stonebwoy.
We wish to state that Shatta Wale accepted a call from Charterhouse to join forces to make the 20th anniversary of the VGMA memorable and has over the period demonstrated his commitment to this course by performing at the VGMA Nominees Jam in Kumasi and VGMA Experience Concert at the Independence Square. Shatta Wale extensively campaigned for votes and promoted the anniversary celebration using his various social media platforms. It will be very illogical for him to deliberately act in a manner to ruin and mar the same event he has spent a lot of resources to promote and urged his fans to attend. Shatta Wale meant no harm and considers this incident as unfortunate.
SIGNED
MANAGEMENT
SHATTA MOVEMENT MUSIC PRODUCTION