E-Wallet fails to get its hit graduate

Aemo E’face will not perform at the final of the revived E-Wallet show, Waka Records announced on Friday.

Recently, E-wallet supremo Felix Njawala named the South Africa-based Malawian pop star among its graduates set to headline the finale on New Year Eve next week.

But Waka Records president Rosie Motene and Aemo said in a press statement on Friday that the artist will not be in Malawi after they failed to agree on payment.

“When negotiations got underway, they didn’t find a sponsor to cover our costs and their budget was too small to afford me,” said E’Face in the statement.

He said they billed E-Wallet “almost half the price” he gets elsewhere. Still, he paid tribute to the man who discovered his talent.

“Mr [Felix] Njawala is a good man and his intentions for Malawi’s young talent are good. However, he needs great support to make the show [attain] international standard,’’  he said.

E-Wallet coordinator Anthony Kafuwa confirmed the setback and the collapse of the deal.

“It’s true Aemo is not coming. We wanted to have him but we can’t afford him anymore,” said Kafuwa.

Waka Records said they made vast adjustments to accommodate the talent show amid Malawi’s economic meltdown.

The Midnight Train to Jozi star said he has embarked on a 12 day spiritual break to reconnect with his inner self because 2013 is a very busy year. Apart from releasing his first album under Waka, he will tour the US and take part in a movie project.

E-Wallet was supposed to trim the number of contestants to five at Sunbird Mount Soche on Monday.