‘Singing is not a crime’ - Nwagi rips ‘unruly' fans, careless village promoters

“I am used to this kind negativity; but as a person I know I am not mad,” said the Swangz Avenue singer on Tuesday, July 11.

“I also have my own problems and being a singer is not a punishment.”

The Mataala singer was forced to stop her performance at a concert on Saturday July 8, and leave the stage after she was attacked with bottles by revelers.

This was after she told one of the revelers to stop touching her inappropriately.

Winnie Nwagi was forced to abandon her performance after she was attacked by revelers pulse uganda

“Sir, I didn’t come here to be groped. Go get a prostitute and bring her on stage,” she said as the crowd started gearing her.

Immediately the bottles started flying from all corners. She was quickly helped off stage by her security.

Minutes earlier, the singer had hit a man standing close to the stage multiple times with the microphone, when he reached to touch her.

Commenting on the incident on Tuesday, Nwagi bemoaned the disrespect of female artists by fans and the lack of protection from show organizers.

This, she said, is more pronounced in village shows.

“It is just that people here have no respect and we as artists are not protected. As long as you get on stage the (organizers) don't care what happens to you especially, in those village shows,” she said.

In this particular incident, Nwagi told Sanyuka TV that the platform was very small and she had no way of avoiding the arms of the revelers reaching for her.

“Some shows have proper platforms with barricades where you are comfortable to do your job. But this one was so small that you couldn't take two steps to either side,” she said.

“As I was walking through that runway, I would take one step to the side and they’d grab my leg. Then I would step to the other side and they grab it, and I am like, what if you trip me?!”

The Nwagi incident was debated widely in the media, with most of the commentators coming out to show her support.

Some however, accused her of being showy and discourteous to the fans.

“She needs to know what her fans want. Fans of today want to put their money where they see,” commented comedian Amooti Omubalanguzi.

Nwagi however, says the negative commentary will not move her.

“I see comments where some people think I am doing this because I have reached this level, but this is who I am. Even from way back, I have always had my principles,” she said.

The singer adds that fans, despite paying money, need to learn to respect artists and know that they have no rights over their bodies.