Controversy Erupts After K'naan Axes Charity Performance in BC

BY Gregory AdamsPublished Sep 24, 2010

A last-minute K'naan cancellation at a charity gig in BC last Tuesday (September 21) has university students in an uproar. The Juno-winning performer, of "Wavin' Flag" fame, has come under fire after pulling out of a performance as part of a World Peace Day celebration at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, BC, despite concert organizers admitting they are to blame.

The Globe and Mail reports that K'naan's management pulled the plug mere hours before his appearance after finding out that Simon Fraser University's I Vision One World (IVOW) club had raised less than half of the artist's agreed-upon performance fee. But it wasn't just the money that soured his proposed set.

"It wasn't just the financial issues. There were production issues," said manage Sol Guy, who also expressed concerns at the sound check. "I think [the organizers] really lacked experience. You can't say just because you're a charity that you can do no wrong. You have to be professional."

While many SFU students were left disappointed, in the end, event organizers sucked it up and accepted full responsibility.

"It's our fault," said IVOW president Kayode Fatoba. "I don't blame [K'naan] because at the end of the day, we said we were going to do something and we weren't able to do it, so that's the repercussion."

While K'naan has been receiving a host of complaints from disappointed concertgoers who believe he should have played the charity gig regardless - some even posting on his Twitter account  with demands for his head the next time he shows up on campus - he has been adamant that fans just don't understand.

"The student union, whom I trust meant well...have been taken for a ride by a charitable sub group. In response, the students are angry," he tweeted.

At present, there are no plans for any sort of make-up show.

Latest Coverage