Kenya: Ethic to sue Koroga Festival organisers

The group, which is signed under AI Records was part of the line-up that performed during the first day of the two-day festival, which ran on the 6 and 7 July 2019.

According to a statement posted on the Ethicentertainment Instagram account on 7 July, the group will be seeking for compensation from the festival organisers after some of its crew members including one rapper were allegedly assaulted by K9 security group, which was providing security at the event. A video of those assaulted was also uploaded online.

"Koroga festival called us and told us to perform as the headliners for the Koroga festival Saturday edition. We had previously done one event with them, and since we had no issues the last time and it being a huge platform, we obviously jumped at the opportunity to perform again," reads part of the statement.

The statement continues: "This time, however, the treatment we got from them was more than hostile. As we speak four of our members, including our Dj, hypeman, Zilla and our driver are all in hospital, brutally injured by guards from the K9 security company and other festival organisers. We want to state that we will be seeking legal redress as we need due compensation from Koroga and K9 security group for our medical bills et al."

The organisers of the festival are yet to issue an official statement on the matter. However, the group's posts on social media triggered responses from various players in the entertainment industry.

Famous Kenyan social media influencer guru Xtian Ndela tweeted; "It is deeply saddening for Kenyan event organisers like Koroga Festival to treat foreign artistes as superstars but treat our own as trash. They pay foreigners much money and treat them like gods while our artists suffer and struggle in our own country #JusticeForEthic."

Radio presenter Billy Miya tweeted: "The Kenyan music industry has come a very long way and such incidences of victimisation should no longer characterise it! What happened to Ethic is wrong and should not happen to anyone! It's Savage! Organisers of Koroga Festival should do something about it."

Launched in 2014 by Capital Fm, Koroga Festival celebrates African music and food.