By Osagie Alonge
Against the backdrop of unconfirmed reports that Empire Mates Entertainment (EME) acts pop star Wizkid and rapper Skales were last month denied entry visas into the United States, the label yesterday issued a statement announcing that the proposed EME North America tour will still hold this summer.
It had been announced a few months back that the trio were planning to kick start a ‘worldwide tour’ outside Nigeria that would kick off on Friday, June 24, 2011 at Lincoln Theatre in Washington, DC with headline performances from Skales, Wizzy and label boss Banky W. But rumours surfaced around town and like wild fire it spread – it was said that Wizkid and Skales were both denied US visas thereby putting a temporary full stop to the scheduled American tour.
Banky W said in the statement ‘actually, the tour was earlier scheduled to begin in Washington DC on June 24’. ‘But due to certain circumstances, we have had to step back to work on a couple of elements necessary to deliver the best experience for our fans’.
No one from the label was willing to give details of these ‘certain circumstances’ when our reporters enquired. And our request to interview Wizkid has been pending for at least one month.
‘We know our fans in the US are waiting. And we apologise profusely, with a promise that this tour will be worth the wait. Our promoters have put in a lot of hard work, and we’re working with so many professionals in different cities to ensure everything goes well.
‘I want to assure all those who have bought tickets already that we’re on; we’re coming for real; and it’s only a matter of weeks before we hIt ‘God’s own Country…’
The EME boys will be looking to put up brilliant performances at the various venues. The tour cities have also been altered as the acts won’t be performing at Washington as earlier stated on the EME website.
Cities to be covered, according to an official guide released by EME, include New York City, Atlanta GA, Houston TX, Detroit MI, Chicago IL, Minneapolis MN, Boston MA, Dallas TX, Detroit MI and San Jose CA. These and other details are listed on the EME website www.empireworldorder.com
The EME tour, the label says, is in conjunction with the top Nigerian and African promoters in each city and will include big venue concerts, select club gigs, road stops, TV and radio performances as well as extended media visits.
According to the label CEO Segun Demuren, the US tour is the first of many EME tours to come: ‘Coming on the heels on a successful album launch concert for Wizkid, we’re moving on to the next step which is to ensure we deliver the best concert experience for our fans all over the world. We’re starting with the US with dates for Europe and Asia to follow’’.
11 comments
Guy you good
Finally, I know why he didnt show up at ATL, I was a bit disappointed, but now that I know why, I am EXPECTING the best of the best from The EME Boyz!!! Cant wait to see you all. :0)
I love u al guy,naija is proud of u,we pray that God take u al 2 the next level,respect 2 u all,one love
You guyz are really making Naija proud keep it up
wishing you guyz success, keep making Naija proud
i see skales’s got lot of talent but also need big artists to feature him..bigup skales….
Thanks for your support in making nigerian music go international..wishing you sucess in whatever you deep your hands into,may God bless and guide you all,in Jesus name.AMEN
infact i realy love wizzy and banky w,pls am also a musician but av feature klever j and preparing on how 2 ft wizzy any body dat known is misc dat is how i can get 2 him and ft him.
i love wizkid and all EME.am a fantastic rapper and a dancehall singer,am so confident on stage.i really light to shine
Thumbz up 2 al’ya big wigz in EME building i appreciate ya endeavourz n respectz ya personalitiez. Go farther,further,harder n higher cuz it’z why ya’al came. Im on ma way.
AM A HUGE FAN OF THE E.M.E.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO BE YOUR BOYS