www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog
Danah Alleyne before “action” with Akon
Trinicenter.com
Reporters
April 22, 2007
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a response to the many racist comments about the Akon/Danah video clip, especially those that were initially posted on YouTube, among other websites. The two clips that were initially posted on YouTube were removed together with hundreds of racist comments.
Much of the discussion surrounding the Hip-hop/R&B singer Akon’s performance at club Zen on Thursday 12th April, 2007, is really based on racism, unreasoned sexual hang-ups and hypocrisy. The reactions of many who have been buzzing on the radio and the internet are clearly based on their racist and colourist views that paint Akon as a black animal who assaulted a minor and the female as a young, misguided innocent, who was taken advantage of. This is really quite ridiculous. Harsh reactions have also been fuelled by the fact that many knew she was a preacher’s daughter and she was acting contrary to what her father preaches.
Akon and Danah on stage at Zen
Akon is a performer whose act is well known and has been widely publicized on the internet and other entertainment media. His song “Smack That” leaves little to the imagination as to its theme and as part of the performance for that song, he dances, appearing to simulate sex with willing female participants, who voluntarily come onstage to be a part of this act. Fans of his certainly could have been aware of the act as there were videos of similar performances easily available on the internet and on some television shows.
Several females took the stage at Zen that night to be a part of this ‘wining competition’ where it was stated that the winner would win a trip to Africa. Certainly, Zen played up the idea that Akon is from Senegal by having people in African attire doing African drumming at the entrance of the venue and by starting the show with a similar African theme. It is then not surprising that Akon would be tongue-in-cheek and set himself up as the embodiment of Africa and be the ‘prize’ for a young lady who won the competition. They were quite okay with receiving the attention from the crowd, the media and the artiste that would come with that. No one was forced. Furthermore, anyone who has been to a concert, party or event that features a ‘wining competition’ where girls are invited to wine either for the audience or with the male star, should be well aware of what awaits them – a hyper-sexual performance that glorifies the sexuality of the star and can end up being totally humiliating for the female. In light of this it is hard to really say the girl was totally unaware.
Akon and Danah on stage at Zen
The extent of the racism that has pervaded this discussion internationally cannot go unaddressed. The idea of Africans being sexually potent, virile and uncontrollable is one that is part of a whole set of racist assumptions that have been bandied about for centuries about Africans. Some Africans in the Diaspora have inherited these ideas about continental Africans to the point that there is now a distinction, where continental Africans are seen as more ‘undiluted’, more potent and animalistic. Many on internet forums have commented on this issue in very racist ways about African sexual proclivities as a way to condemn the way he danced with the female. The discussion has taken a turn to sound like a replica of plantation and colonial attitudes where the constant fear by the White male population was the violation of their White women by sexually potent and deviant African males. There is a long history of this ‘fear’ that can be traced throughout history and has certainly been expressed up to this day by East Indian groups and spokespersons in Trinidad who claimed at one time that African men were targeting Indian women for rape. These ideas have influenced the way many people have viewed this incident.
In addition, for many, the light-skinned look of the girl defied their own ideas of ‘the kind of girls that do that’, i.e. blacker, poorer ones, and to see their racist ideas of a black, sex-crazed stud brought to life in their vision of Akon was just too much to take. People are often fine with seeing Black females dancing and doing all sorts of things that they may find lewd and inappropriate, as they find it quite normal for them to do so. They, however, find it shocking that a light-skinned one would dance in ways that they deem lewd and furthermore with an African male. This speaks directly to their own racism and colourism and very little about the act itself or about Akon. It suits them to see the light-skinned young female as innocent and blameless and the African hip-hop singer as guilty and licentious regardless of the truth of the matter. Much of the discussion that has been going on the internet is full of such racist sentiments.
Akon and Danah on stage at Zen
The truth is, the female willingly came to a club, dressed in a way that is typical of older females who are used to the club scene, was allowed in, despite what Zen says are its rigid age checks, and willingly volunteered herself to dance on the stage in a competition for a prize and then with a male artiste. Regardless of whether she could have anticipated the kind of dancing that would have ensued, every step leading up to it was as a result of her own choices. The young lady in question was interviewed by TV6 news last night and in her own words she explained how she got carried away and was embarrassed to see herself afterward as the event was over so quickly that she did not realize that was what had happened or how it would have looked. Nowhere did she blame the artist or say she was abused. Nowhere did she chastise him for the way he danced with her and nowhere did she indicate that she was innocent in the affair. She clearly stated that she went to these clubs against her parent’s advice and that while at the time she did not see any big deal in the dance, when the clips hit the internet and she saw it, she then felt embarrassed and ashamed of the hurt she caused her parents and herself. This seemed to me like an honest recognition by an obviously young teenager, now stripped of her revealing outfit, makeup and fingernails, of an impulsive action that resulted in embarrassment for herself and others only after the fact.
The media, however, does seem to be attempting to distort what was said by the teenager or at the very least carrying contradictory reports. In the Guardian story carried today, the headline reads “I Was Cajoled Into Sexy Dance” which is a direct, deliberate distortion attempting to leave the casual reader with the impression that the teen was cajoled into dancing by the artiste Akon. The article continues:
My parents had no clue I was going to the concert or how I was dressed. I told them I was going with my cousins for ice cream. When I left the house I had on a jacket.
This contradicts what was said in the Newsday article, which states:
Danah said two days before the concert, a friend sponsored her a $450 VIP ticket. She said her parents, who were not present at the interview, knew she was going.
Newsday’s article also states:
Danah, daughter of Pastor Dave Alleyne, of the Flaming Word Ministry in Chaguanas, described her ordeal as shocking and humiliating. She insists she and other girls were deceived into entering a dance competition in which the first place winner would receive a trip to Africa.
While in what seems to be a different attitude, the TV6 interview with the girl herself gives the impression that at the time she did not think it was a big deal but it was only afterward when she saw it that she felt embarrassed.
Now I am sure the girl did feel embarrassed after seeing the video and after some members of the public began condemning her dancing, but it is a bit misleading to give the impression that she did not approve of the dancing while she was doing it. It seems to be a fair assessment that she was carried away in the moment, as she said, and did not think of the consequences. This is quite normal for many young people and many older people and in this case is not even a matter of condemnation and censure.
Akon and Danah on stage at Zen
People who have been commenting on this story have been claiming that the dancing was disgusting, lewd and even abusive to the female. Certainly people can claim to be disgusted by certain behavior; that is their right. People tend to express their disgust for many things; sexual expression is one that certainly raises much commentary. However that really is a matter of personal choice for people to decide what is appropriate for them. People are often quite dishonest and find that many things should be banned, including open truthful discussions about racism, colourism and African history, so it is not really smart to buy too many of their arguments about what is appropriate and what is not. The discussion however, becomes distorted because many comments on this matter have certainly been coming from people who don’t support these kind of expressions anyway: from Carnival to Dancehall Passa Passa to even the bare-breasted dancing of a well-respected South African dance troupe that performed in Trinidad a few years ago. Many people who comment on appropriateness of dancing at these kind of events do not even attend such events, concerts, parties or performances, and like many of those who have commented unfairly on the Akon concert, they have no real legitimate way of judging whether this is normal, whether many females do volunteer to go on stage for these wining competitions or not. They are quite content to blame Akon; an artist who was doing the job that he was paid to do by the nightclub, who should certainly have been aware of his act.
Now, ones could certainly object to what they may see as a particular performance style that is quite common in Hip-hop, Soca, Dancehall as well as some Rock acts and other musical forms; the idea that sex and sexuality must be dealt with in a context of domination, humiliation and the perpetuation of the illusion of dominant über-masculine sexuality. All are participants in that – the males that embrace those attitudes and the females who buy into it and allow themselves to be part of it. This was seen particularly at the end of the dance where Akon ran off and left the young lady on the ground where they had been dancing previously. However up to this point, if ones look at all the pictures from this event, it becomes clear that at the time of the act, the young lady in question did not appear to be distressed or trying to get away. She appeared to be enjoying herself, as did the other females who volunteered to enter this competition. That is their right. Certainly this is an area that can be discussed and reasoned. There are certainly reasons why some may see sexuality in this way and why it is commercially viable for music industry executives to sell this image. However, even in that discussion one has to see that once participants are willing and no one is hurt in these encounters it still remains a matter of taste and personal preference. Once all parties are willing then one cannot talk of anyone being taken advantage of or abused in that context.
Akon and Danah on stage at Zen
One thing that is crystal clear however, is the role of the nightclub, Zen, in the whole affair. It is illegal for nightclubs to admit people under 18 years of age. While Johnny Soong has stated that Zen adheres to a strict age policy where they ask for ID from patrons, the comments of the teenager do not show this at all. In the Express article she says:
“I know a lot of my friends who were my age and were there,” she said.
“They asked for ID in VIP because you have to be 21 years and over to go up in VIP, but anyone was allowed to go in the general admission area.”
In the Guardian article it states:
When they got to the club last week Thursday, she said, they proceeded to the VIP section but were stopped by the bouncers who said they had to be 21 years and over to enter, and asked for their identification cards.
Danah said, “We did not have it so they told us we had to go into general admission and we did.”
While Johnny Soong, owner of the nightclub states that this young lady may have “slipped through the cracks” many who do attend this club and many others can state clearly that many underage females especially are allowed into the nightclub. As a matter of fact, this nightclub in particular seems to be more concerned with admitting, light-skinned and brown-skinned females with a particular look, body shape and dress than about the age of the females. The club has come under fire many times for what some patrons have seen as racist and colour-biased practices in their admission policies. In light of this, it is not hard to see how this female could have been admitted despite the fact that she clearly stated that she did not have ID and was admitted anyway. It is in fact, the same colour bias that many people have displayed in commenting on this issue that led to the underage female being in the club in the first place. I suppose we can wait to see what action, if any, will be taken against the Zen nightclub for clearly breaking the law.
At the end of the day, the discussion of this issue has been riddled with distortions, which have made it difficult for some to see the issues clearly. Akon has been vilified because of his race, black skin and clearly stated Senegalese roots, as a sex-crazed fiend that took advantage of a young girl and cajoled her into committing lewd acts. The girl has been seen as innocent because of her age, her colour and her look that for some may not fit their idea of a ‘dancehall queen’, regardless of her own statements where she admitted her culpability and stated unequivocally that she got carried away and went voluntarily and now sees it as a mistake. In addition, as I previously stated, some commentary has been from the perspective of those who find that she was acting out of character as the daughter of a preacher. Some commentary has also been from the perspective of those who find that any sexual dancing is lewd anyway and should be frowned upon. While the dancing might not have been to the taste of some, that is really their affair and until people deal with their own sexual hang-ups they really cannot effectively judge another’s sexual expression. Issues of racism, colourism and sexuality rear their heads all the time in a variety of discussions because these issues are so fundamental and have remained unreasoned in the public space for too long.
Let us not continue to be hypocrites and see this issue for what it is.
Some images were reproduced from:
http://img141.imageshack.us/my.php?image=akonconcert046km0eo1.jpg
http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/1566/akonconcert047in0.jpg
http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/9558/akonconcert048xt8.jpg
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NEWS UPDATE: May 07, 2007
Police investigators have closed the books on investigations into the Danah Alleyne/Akon raunchy dancing incident at Zen nightclub.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police Winston Cooper, the investigations have reached a stalemate as witnesses aren’t coming forward to support the police.
It’s been three weeks since police officers launched an investigation into the lewd dancing incident involving the fifteen year old pastor’s daughter, Danah Alleyne, and the hip-hop singer, Akon at Zen nightclub. A video clip of the act was posted on the internet and this sparked a national debate about such conduct and who is to blame.
UPDATE: June 13, 2007
Akon’s I’m Sorry Song
Akon apologized to his fans, the young girl, and Gwen Stefani today for his involvement in the onstage underage girl-humping incident that rocked across the net earlier this month.
UPDATE: July 12, 2007
Danah Alleyne to accept youth award
Danah Alleyne will accept the Youth Motivator Award and $1,000 in prize money from Choc’late Allen at her “100% Crime Free” Committee Youth Awards Ceremony to be held next Tuesday, despite a public outcry on the decision, even from Alleyne’s own brother, Ian.
Trinidad and Tobago News Blog’s URL for this article:
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog/?p=221
Oh please whats the big deal. Now carnival over and somebody not wining to soca , but to akon r&b artiste. I see worse than that on carnival days on the street of t&t, its part of the culture she learn to wine from the older heads.
Now to the girls father he need to read his bible and explain the meaning of the tattoo on the lil gyul back. If Akon tell she to strip she would have. Trini alove all yuh still.
was he molesting her while she was wining on him wrapping her arm around him? or when he was lying down and she was on top wining? looks like she was well enjoying it. hypocracy and double standards
Abused who? You all are joking! Danah is a pro. She may have the age of a child but judging from those pictures, no no no tattoo, navel ring and the outfit which left much to the imagination.
If she`s a child then I havent even been born.
The only thing that associated her with religion was her crucifix which nestled between her breast.
I was young too but I always had pride about the manner I poryrayed myself, if you dont respect yourself then how would men respect you.
One report stated she went to purchase ice cream I fail to think how she slipped passed her father and ended up in a $450 fete. Come on pastor you forgive danah for her trangression so to you should forgive Akon for his.
The clear fact is that she is a minor and therefore not responsible for here actions. The law basically says she is too young to know any better. Therefore it is there responsibility of her guardians to make sure she does not get into any trouble. That’s where the actions of the parents and her cousins “who bought the ticket and took her out, thus assuming temporary guardianship” need to be look at.
Now if Akon took the girl back stage and had sex with her, he should be charged with statutory rape. It does not matter, if she consented or if Akon assumed she was 18 because the club let her in. The final act was his to perform and thus his responsibility. Unfortunate but true. The same law applies in the states.
Ok so Akon did not have sex, but what he did was considered molestation of a minor. If it was a 7 year old girl who looked 7, would you not be singing a different story? Well she was obviously 7 so it is a clear case of molestation. The law should not see the difference if she is 7 or 14. She is a minor. If you are performing any act that could be construed in any form as a sexual act, you have to make sure it is consensual and the person has to be of legal age to give consent. He should have asked for ID before allowing the girl to come up on stage. You are responsible for your own actions, not Zen in case of checking ID. Assuming Zen did it is not an excuse in the eyes of the law.
Secondly, Mr, Ruel Daniels, I do not have an “obvious craving for black male demonization”. At no point do I mention race or wish to. I’m just saying there may be a case to charge Akon, and if there is, maybe it would be good if the government pursues it to send a clear message and a wake up call to society that we need to “check ourself’s”.
Akon got himself in an unfortunate situation, but to say he is blameless is not correct. He chooses to sing highly sexual song. He chose to have a highly charges sexual act. He chose NOT to have warnings about the sexual charge act. He chose NOT to personally check the ID of Guest he invited onto to the stage to perform said sexual performance. He must take some measure of responsibility.
Sorry he first Paragraph seem to have been cut off. My post should have started with this statemant:
Some people seem to misunderstand my comments. I’m not excusing the girl for her actions, or the clubs responsibility nor the parents or the cousins who took her. They are all guilty in one form of the other. What I’m saying is that there may be a case against Akon for molesting a Minor.
Kobo,
There is absolutely NO WAY that Akon can be charged for molesting a minor. As a matter of fact, there is no such charge in the statutes of this country. Akon and Danah did dance on stage and the debate is whether or not the dance was “lewd”. Still, he in no way abused or molested Danah. That cannot be proven.
I am a Trinidadian and everyone has to take responsibility for their actions. Pastor Alleyne should take full blame for his irresponsibility and his daughter’s actions. What parent would allow their 15 year old daughter to go out that time of night. If that didn’t happen,her parents would have never known. True talk, the girl dressed like what we say in trini, “Ah Baddess” and acted as though she was accustomed. Danah was in heat and enjoyed every minute. She is just ashamed she got caught and now playing innocent. I would bet anything she is not a virgin. I would not doubt if Akon “Cut It”(had sex with her)
I am 18 and never would i try to leave my parents house dressed like “i was going to take man”. Girl please carnival worst than that cause is more than one man in worst positions you just don’t have such a big audience or a well known figure. Did you tell them you were 15? Did you tell mom or dad even brother you were going? Where you you going dressed like that? Did you not boast to your friends you were going? Daddy only backed you because he has a reputation to uphold. You are entitled to feel ashamed but honestly you knew what you were doing Who are you trying to fool. This is not your first there did you tell daddy dearest that Come on girl be real LIVE LIFE LEARN dot past judgment or blame cause a picture says a thousand words
o who d hell dem trying to fool here, eh! she stated dat she didn’t no wat had happened nor dat all of dat action on stage took place, so wat she trying to say on top of to is dat she was under the influence of alcohol as well, for a pastor daughter!
the things i want to say bout that girl eh! only if she did get caught none of this would be taking place right now, we won’t be reading nor writing these comments!
i totally agree with Hakim’s comments on her, every word is very ture,is just to bad dat she got caught red handed as dey say!
now she say dat she is going to take her dance to a godly stage, well i won’t like to see dat!
shame on you Danah for not acting like you and taking responsibilities for your actions SHAME ON YOU !
There is no way you can blame akon,for DANAH’S behaviour I saw the pictures and there is no way that akon could tell by the way she was dresses and dancing that she was 14.The club should take full responsibility for the actions of it’s security staff.Her family is just ashamed,of her actions and they are tryiny to put the blame on others instead of themselves,in the future they should think twice when danah say she is going for some ice-cream.
if that girl was not a pastors daughter what would the response be. tell me this? there is definitely double standards in this country and i believe that the government should not take any part in this scenario. akon definitely did not abuse this girl. she has no remorse for what she has done because she would have done worst if she was not caught. if she is so young, why did her parents let her go out this late. it is the fault of the parents that this happened and they should be apologising to akon and the country for what has happened. this pastor cannot take care of his child but he can hold a congregation, this is ridiculous. how can a 14 year old girl have a belly ring and a tatoo on her back, what kind of parents does she have. does anyone know if this girl is sexually active, i think that we should find out now. double standards people, this jus keeping the people away from all the real news in the country like the politics and the water problem. THE PARENTS OF THIS GIRL SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR WHAT THEY CREATED…
Honestly ppl i think it is time this country gets over his whole thing. Carnival time when ppl are opening their legs for the cameramen no one objects do they. The only reason that this had made such a big thing is because she is 14 and what makes it worse “oh she is the pastor’s daughter”. Most pastor’s daughters I know are the ones that you have to keep an extra eye on them. Girls are having sex at age 12 come on, she is not a virgin. A virgin would not dress like that or behanve in that manner. In the pics she is laughing and grabbing on to Akons pants which indicates she was enjoying it. Only because the whole world knows her rauchy behaviour she is feeling guilty. I am not agreeing with Akons behaviour either he had no right to treat our women like that whether she is 14 or 24 same disrespect. I think it is time we give this “child” a break, she has had enough. I am just waiting for the headline “Danah Alleyne” commits suicide because the pressure that she is taking from the public I am sure is taking a toll on her, So trinis give her a break.
this girl got what she was looking for first of all she lie to her parents second by the look of it she has been doing that a long time now cause what pastor kid would have a tattoo on their body third her parents are slack just for letting their 14 or 15 or however old she is to go out and a school night and hell she is a pastor daughter i’m also trinidadian and when i was her age there was no way in hell i would have walk out my parent house looking like that i also grow up in church going home i went to one of the best known church in trinidad (elijah center)and i did what she did i lie to go to all my party but guess what i knew i was not suppose to be there so i stayed where there were no pictures was taken if she had used head she would have done the same cause no one held her hold and told her to go on stage and i dont not put akon at fault for that akon baby u keep on doing your thing.
I dont see what all the fuss is about, would it had made a difference if she was 18, because she certainly looked like an eighteen year old, or is this to discredit her father for been so open in his criticism of Elton John. We will never know. The pastor needs to pay closer attention to what goes on in his house before him try straighting someone else’s
why she do something like to akon as the age of fourteen it is very shame on a poster daughter.akon as singer should know better to know that is a child i am from guyana bye
People should begin to realize that there is plenty of such situations out there, where this exact same thing happens. Look at Passa Passa and Carnival and all the other so called Dance Clubs. We hear of girls getting rapped and drugged in these places and what becomes of them. NOTHING!!!Every weekend we hear of some “madd dance”. What ddo u think happens there.
What we should be doing is getting these young “kids” away from such places. It’s no place for them. That is what the issue is here. Not Akon. Or the Club. Or what really happened.
Fact is: She should not have been there. Period.
if she was such of a good gal she would not dress and act like that so her father should act like that the way she was is not akon fault shit like this does make people not want to come to trinidad like that dmx thing we here in new york lookin bad when they say shit like this
You Trini’s are known for your vulger dancing so what the heck is your problem.Canada
I must say this is an outrage indeed but not for the reasons everyone else proclaims!
I have 3 teen daughters 13,14, and 15 and I buy there clothes, I monitor their activities, I follow up on the people they hang around and the places they say they’re going to, that is my job as a parent!
Mr. Pastor your daughter has embarrassed you, then take care of it at home. Your daughter was NOT molested! She was in an adult place and doing some very adult things, admit it and deal with her!
Did you not see the pic where she was grabbing his belt, pulling him closer to her bumm? Unfortunately, this young lady was not innocent at all. My daughters do not have friends that much older than her to afford $450 for a VIP club ticket, because I control who she hangs around with.
Ask yourself this? What trip to TGIF for ice cream would last that long? Did they know or didn’t they know?
She should be embarrassed because what was done in the dark has come to the light?
Is Akon at fault? NO! Akon’s show is what it is! Akon’s fans have seen this before captured on video so this is nothing new.
If anyone is at fault, it is the club for not having proper ID check. How is it that you can buy a VIP ticket but can’t produce ID to get in the VIP section and you are still allowed in the club? If you can’t produce ID for the VIP section then you couldn’t have had your ID checked to enter the club, which is a big no no.
Lastly i will also say, the dancing is not a major issue either. Island dances usually are very provocative as most ethnic dances are…look at belly dancing, look at the lambada and different ethnic dances please, let get off of our self righteous, high- horses and back to reality.
We need to parent our children a bit better than we have been doing. Those pictures of that young girl show that she is no stranger to sexual things and sexuality. Pastors are sometimes so busy saving everyone else and dealing with their issues and attending all of the different functions and their own family suffers, wives and children especially! Who paid for the tatoo? Where did she get a belly button ring at 14? Mr Pastor are we practicing what we preach to others.
My girls attend church functions and school functions, anything outside of that is with family. I CAN control who they hang around and where they go until they are 18 and then I can only pray that what I have taught them and the EXAMPLE that I have set for them has sunk in!
Akon is not responsible for checking the girl’s ID before she got on stage, Club Zen is responsible.
Akon could only assume that she and all of the people in the crowd were of age.
Is Trinidad, oh gosh, people get on badder than that for Carnival in broad daylight. Allyuh chill nah!
HOW CAN SHE BE SUCH AN INNOCENT 14 YEAR OLD. GIRLS HAVE BEEN HAVING SEX AND BABIES FROM TIME MEMORIAL. WHY IS EVERYONE SO FOCUSED ON HER DANCE MOVES WITH AKON I’M APPALLED AT HER DRESS CODE AND SHE HAS TATOOES TO BOOT. GIVE ME A BREAK. IF MY KIDS HAD CLOTHES LIKE THAT I’D KNOW AND THIS TATTOO BUSINESS I THINK NOT! HER PARENTS SHOULD NOT BE SHOCKED ARE THEY NOT HER PARENTS AND HOW COULD THEY NOT KNOW. THIS IS A NEW CULTURE AND ERA. THEY SHOULD TAKE A LOOK AT THEMSELVES AND TRY TO SALVAGE SOMETHING FROM THIS. WE ARE ALL UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS WITH CHOICE AND WHETHER OUR PARENTS ARE PASTORS OR CONVICTS WE SHOULD BE TREATED AS INDIVIDUALS. ARE YOU SAYING THAT THIS IS EXPECTED OF A CONVICTS DAUGHTER? HER PARENT SHOULD SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY OF GETTING TO KNOW THEIR DAUGHTER BETTER AND THANK AKON FOR MAKING THEM AWARE .OBVIOUSLY THE WERE ASLEEP. REMEMBER THAT WE WERE ALL YOUNG ONCE AND WE ALL DID SOMETHING WE SHOULDN’T DO. BIGER THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN THIS WORLD THIS IS A PERSONAL ISSUE FIX IT
I don’t think this girl is truely innocent at all. Is anyone paying attention to her dress code and her tatoo. I’m young myself and won’t mind going to those places just for the experience but my goodiness i won’t find myself on the stage doing that kind of dance or getting on that crazy.
That girl needs a lot of attention and her parents should try to see where they can fill in to help her.
Also the Club should do better than that in terms of the ID and check on young females like her self.
Being a mother of 3 and 1 a 16 year old- I think I have the right to speak on this one. What puzzles me is why is the media not telling the full truth? Is this some type or political thing? This girl clearly was not forced on stage and if I can recall the video correctly- Akon had his arms out twice I believe- to me she looked like she was enjoying the ride! How dare her father condemn another man of his daughters actions. Here in the South we call that lynching-
What is really scary is – it seems that her father is not going to stop until her takes bread from everyones mouth because he feels “they are to blame”
Get real Trinidad- Please dont stand by and let this happen-
I am planning on watching this story closely and advising all my friends and family to not travel to Trinidad until this matter is handled correctly. I wish that I could meet with this father, pastor- man face to face- I am not affraid to tell him that- piercing on a 15 year old is tooo grown- tatoo on lower back- not appropriate- Clothing!!!! definitely not becoming of a 15 year old- 1 slip and breast are exposed. I want to know 1 how did she arrive at this establishment? That is what need to be researched!
It is sad that the club is now closed down because the Pastor was looking for heads to save grace and face.
Well Pastor- you can win the hearts of People like me by disciplining your daughter and not spoiling her.
As stated before, I have a teenager and she has no revealing clothing like so, no tatoos, no piercings.
Not saying she did not try to do the ole’ switch at school with my friends thing- BAM she got caught and I opened up some medicine sure to cure- what we call her in North Carolina as What- BOOTLEATHER!!– stop spoiling that child and equip yourself with the ROD of CORRECTION!
If you don’t here is a statistic that you should consider-
Everyday here in the US someones child is abducted- lately it has been to internet use and meeting or hooking up with guys met on the internet (has anyone seen this childs profile online)- Some parents my dear Pastor were not as lucky or blessed (no pun intended) to have their daughters walk back into there home after pulling a stunt like hers.
Instead, they take flowers, tissue, and a head full of “WHYS” to the cememtery for visits.
Take heed to what is really the problem. Nor Akon, Not Club Zen’s- It is a rebellious child that is looking for attention- Give her some now why you can- I would hate to think that something wrong may happen to this child if she sneaks off again.
Here is a suggestion: Create a spot where these teens can hang out- have a nice time and be taught manners, etiquette,
how to be a productive young woman or man. Teach them to give back to society. Pastor, here is a job for you- you want some backing – contact me- I will be there- make the first step!
One Love
Akon is not to blame. The girl is not to blame neither. Just because her parents is one way does not mean she has to be that way too.
I THINK DANA IS LIKE ANY OTHER PERSON ALTHOUGH SHE IS A PASTORS DAUGHTER WHEN YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT IT WE OURSELVES ARE GUILTY OF DOING WRONG THINGS IN LIFE WE ALL HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THET SHE IS A TEENAGER WITH HORMONS LIKE ANY OTHER THAT WILL ACT UP AND SHE WILL GET CARRIED AWAY.PLUS WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT SHE WAS THINKING ABOUT GETTING FAME BECAUSE SHE MET AND DANCED WITH A HIP HOP STAR THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH HER DANCE BECAUSE I’M 14 YRS ASWELL AND MY PARENTS DON’T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT BUT THEY WOULDN’T LIKE FOR ME TO DO IT BEHIND THEIR BACK SO DANAH HAS ALOT TO DO WITH THIS ANYWAY WE CAN’T CRY OVER SPILLED MILK AND PLUS EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON AND THE LORD ALONE KNOWS.
This girl only has herself to blame. She lied from the start, this was all part of her game plan she know what sort of environment she was entering. I mean c’mon on now your 14 years old, you lie to your parents about your whereabouts, go to a club ( underage with a pre-paid ticket)enter a competition, get on rude with Akon on stage and then suddenly act like a resentful innocent likkle child. No that don’t work you have a brain and also emancipation. No one forced to go out on stage and degrade youself THAT WAS YOUR CHOICE just like how you deceived your parents without thought is the same thing you did in club ZEN, silly girl i don’t sympathize. Yes im a young adults in my early twenties myself and i was once a teenager so i can understand with peer pressure, what is deemed as cool etc ..but there is a limit and you know wrong from right. The parents of Danah are irresponsible, what 14 yr old, girl to be exact is aloud out for ice-cream at that time of night?? i know my mother ”would ah run meh to bed”if i asked her to go on de road for ice-cream dem time deh….what makes it worse this girl must of been out for a good afew HOURS…did her parents not notice? wouldn’t they be worried? couldn’t they have contacted her or her so called cousin? sounds like a lack of communication there. Another thing the owner of club Zen should take a fraction of the blame, tighten up your security I.D the revellers its not rock science!!
SHE SEEMED TO ENJOY THE DANCE. IT IS SAID SHE IS A PROFESSIONAL. DANCING THE PASA PASA DANCE IN CHAGAUANAS WITH A THONG. IF SHE WAS A SAINT SHE MIGHT NOT HAVE KNOWN HOW TO DANCE THIS WELL. CLUB ZEN SHOULD NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYTHING. SHE KNEW WHAT SHE WAS DOING. HER PARENTS NEED TO WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE. SHE IS ONLY SORRY NOW BECAUSE WHEN THE SHIT HIT THE FAN SHE WAS CLOSE BY.
Kobo
Now if Akon took the girl back stage and had sex with her, he should be charged with statutory rape. It does not matter, if she consented or if Akon assumed she was 18 because the club let her in. The final act was his to perform and thus his responsibility. Unfortunate but true. The same law applies in the states.
Again you are wrong. Where are you pulling these legal mumbo jumbos from, your ass. Trinidad and Tobago’s Law is derived from the British System of Laws shared by Caribbean Nations in the British Commonwealth. Statutory Rape involves carnal connexion with a female under 14 years of age. The girls was 15 they say.
Why can’t people offer up their comments on these boards without fronting themselves off as legal experts. The laws of the Unites States are different to the Laws of the British Commonwealth of Nations. You probably fell asleep while watching Court TV and missed the important parts of the discussion between the legal experts they have on there from time to time.
WE CAN LOOK THIS AND SE WHERE WERE HEADING …THE LAWS ARE NOT BEING ENFORCED ACROSS THE BOARD…NO UNDER 18 ADMISSION, NO LIQUOR LICENCE- NO CLUB NIGHT, NO RESTAURANT LIC – NO OPERATION OF THE CLUB. NO OVER INTOXICATED PATRONS EXITING THE CLUB- PADDY WAGON COOL OFF, NO GANG VIOLENCE OUTSIDE NOR INSIDE THE CLUB – INSTANT LOCK -UP, POSESSION O ILLEGAL DRUGS (WEED,CRACK, COKE,SPEED , HASH, HEROINE, EXTACY) LOOK UP …I CAN GO ON AND ON…BUT THIS IS RULE AND THE LAWS ARE ON THE STATUTE BOOKS OF THE LAND. MIND YOU THERE IS ANOTHER PLACE THAT HAVE THE SAME LAWS AS US AND THE CITIZENS DARE NOT ATTEMPT TO FLAUNT THE LAWS ..ITS IN TAMPA, FLORIDA.THE SAME TRINIS WHO BREAK ALL THE LAWS IN T&T ARE SAINTS IN U.S AND DONT DARE TO TAKE A CHANCE. AKON , MACHEL, AND ALL THE UNDER AGE DANCE CONTESTANTS WONT LAST A WEEK ABIDING BUY THE LAW…FROM CAPTAIN TO COOK WOULD HAVE BEEN IN JAIL THEN ANSWERING SOME SERIOUS QUESTIONS….SO THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO LET INLAND REVENUE CHECK ALL INVOLVED OUT !! LETS SEE IF THE NUMBERS ADD UP..!! NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW ……LET GET IT RIGHT ONCE AND FOR ALL……….SO WHEN YOUR IN THE PUBLIC EYE DONT SHUN PUBLIC SCRUTINY AND RUN OR DUCK OR PUT YOUR MOTHERTO HANDLE YOUR BIS …..ROTTEN EGGS DONT HAVE TO BE BROKEN TO SMELL………
I totally agree with everyone who’s expressing their disgust with this little child…she claims that she was going for ice-cream with her friends yet left the house with red pumps on…didnt her parents notice anything..yet by midnight when she wasnt home after getting “ice cream” we hafta wonder if her parents called her to get her whereabouts…the family friend “pastor” cuffie is blasting club owner Mr. Soong for his or the workers level of concern that night. also blasting manning for allowing Elton John even ENTER T&T because of his homosexuality.(tell me what does this have to do with the “Zen” issue?) Even if it was wrong, some women of today disgrace themselves by getting up on stage with these artists to perform lude acts, and for what? 15 mins of fame..in dannah’s i’m sure she’s getting more than she bargained for. “Pastor” Cuffie needs to keep his assinine statements for the foolish people who even call him pastor. The child was wrong and their’s nothing ANYONE can do about it. Life goes on people.