The Accra High Court has mandated Ghanaian dancehall artist Charles Nii Armah Mensah, popularly known as Shatta Wale, to pay a sum of one hundred and twenty thousand dollars ($120,000) to Maverick City Entertainment, the organizers of the Wildaland Festival. The court, presided over by Justice Afi Agbanu Kudomor, granted various reliefs to the plaintiff, including an interest judgment on the $120,000 from December 14, 2021, to the final payment date at a rate of 5.5% (New York federal interest rate), totaling ten thousand eight hundred and ninety-two United States Dollars and forty-seven cents ($10,892.47).
In addition to the monetary penalty, Shatta Wale is also required to pay Twenty Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHC20,000). The legal action stems from Shatta Wale’s failure to perform at the Wildaland Festival in 2021 despite receiving full payment for the agreed-upon performance.
The festival’s founder, Sadiq Abudulia Abu, publicly criticized Shatta Wale on social media for unprofessional conduct, especially after the artist complained about the lack of reciprocal love from Nigeria. Shatta Wale confirmed receiving the $120,000 payment in an October 2022 interview with Giovani Caleb on TV3.
In a separate development, the organizers have announced the return of the Wildaland Festival, described as the “Glastonbury of Africa.” The two-day festival, scheduled for December 26th to 27th, 2023, at Stone Lounge, Asutuare Road, Accra, follows the cancellation of the previous year’s event. The 2021 festival featured prominent artists such as Davido, Sarkodie, Stonebwoy, Black Sherif, Kidi, Kuami Eugene, Adekunle Gold, Gyakie, and Focalistic, attracting over 6,000 attendees.
