Banjul-based promoter Chipa has accused musician Star Girl and her management of failing to honour an agreement for a scheduled performance at a children’s event in Banjul.
According to Chipa, he reached an agreement with Star Girl’s manager for the artist to perform on the fourth day of Tobaski at the Tennis Court Lawn in Banjul. He claimed that he paid D10,000 to secure the booking.
“I had an agreement with the manager for Star Girl to perform at my event on the fourth day of Tobaski, and I paid D10,000. But they breached the contract and went to perform at another event in the provinces,” Chipa alleged.
He further explained that significant resources had already been spent on promoting the event, including flyers displayed across Banjul.
“We had flyers displayed all over Banjul, and at the eleventh hour they backed out of the agreement to satisfy another group,” he said.
When contacted for comment, Star Girl’s manager, Star Boy, gave a different version of events. He said the situation became complicated after it was confirmed that Tobaski would not be celebrated on the same day in the Greater Banjul Area and the provinces.
According to Star Boy, he informed Chipa that Star Girl would be in the provinces on the fourth day of Tobaski and offered him two options: either reschedule the event or receive a refund of the D10,000 payment.
However, he claimed Chipa refused both options at the time and insisted that the event should go ahead as originally planned, citing the money already spent on preparations.
In the end, Star Girl did not perform at the children’s event in Banjul.
Chipa is now demanding the return of his D10,000, but Star Boy said the money has already been spent.
The dispute has sparked questions about professionalism, communication, and the importance of clear written agreements between promoters and artists in The Gambia’s entertainment industry.
While Chipa insists that Star Girl’s camp breached their agreement, Star Girl’s management maintains that they had offered a solution before the event date.
What is your take? Should Star Girl’s management refund the D10,000, or should Chipa have accepted the earlier offer to reschedule or receive a refund?