Community Corner
Local Concert Promoter Held in Angola
Congressman and rapper are working for his release
Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen and the rapper Nas are working to free a Convent Station resident who is being held in Angola over a financial dispute.
Patrick Allocco, CEO of AllGood Concerts, a division of AllGood Entertainment, a concert promotion firm, and his son, are forbidden by Angolan authorities to leave the country, according to Jon Trumbull or Ren Grevatt Associates, a Little Falls public relations firm.
Allocco booked a New Years Eve concert in Angola. The headliner was to be Nas and the opening act Jemiah Jai, a former model and rapper from Atlanta.
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Neither performer showed up for the concert and the Angolan promoter wants his $315,000 back.
Nas told the entertainment publication TMZ he agreed to perform, but canceled because of a “miscommunication” about travel plans. He said he will not shoulder all of the blame for the canceled concert.
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After the concert didn’t happen, Angolan concert impresario Henrique “Riquhino” Miguel of Casa Blanca Entertainment allegedly had his private security men abduct Allocco and his son at gunpoint, Trumbull said. The Americans were en route to the US Embassy when they were detained. Trumbull said the men were interrogated by local authorities for nearly seven hours.
U. S. Embassy Vice Consul David Josar persuaded the authorities to release the men to a local hotel, Trumbell said.
Steve Wilson or Frelinghuysen’s press office said Frelinghuysen spoke to Christopher McMuller, American ambassador to Angola and the Congressman’s staff has been in regular contact with U. S. Embassy staff. Wilson said he understands Allocco and his son are safe and negotiations are underway for their release.
Wilson also said Frelinghuysen’s staff is in touch with Allocco’s family in New Jersey.
Nas told TMZ he has no intention of keeping the $315,000 he was paid, but his staff was not told where to return the money.
A bilingual message said calls to Allocco’s cell phone could not be completed.
Allocco primarily promotes concerts in New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and South America.
