Documents obtained by the ABC11 I-Team reveal the details of the payment and the subsequent disappointment faced by festival-goers.

Monica, the artist who was touted as the main attraction for the festival, took to social media to express her surprise, stating that she was never contacted or contracted to perform at Bimbé. The vendor responsible for booking headliners, Chris Weeks, stated that he expects the city to recover the entire $37,000 by tomorrow, as the confusion stemmed from miscommunication between Monica's booking agent and the artist herself.

The documents obtained by ABC11 I-Team outline a payment structure that included an initial deposit of $20,000, followed by two additional payments of $8,500 in March and April. These funds were paid to the vendor for the purpose of booking Monica for the festival. An additional $8,000 was supposed to be paid after her performance.

The original contract initially listed both "Amerie" and "Monica" as headliners, but an amendment removed Amerie from the agreement, leaving only Monica. The contract also stipulates that Durham city officials are entitled to a full refund if the artist fails to perform.

Disappointed fans of Monica expressed their confusion and frustration after she posted an Instagram video stating that she would not be performing at the 2024 Bimbé Cultural Arts Festival. Durham City Hall asserted that it had received confirmation from Monica's booking agent on January 19 and February 9, confirming her participation in the festival.

Durham's Mayor Leonardo Williams expressed his disappointment with the turn of events, acknowledging the drop in communication between the parties involved. He reassured the public that the city had followed its standard contractual process, involving attorneys to vet the agreement. Mayor Williams emphasized that they are seeking answers as to where the breakdown occurred between their representatives and Monica's team.

Mayor Williams also mentioned that the city is determined to recover every penny of the down payment made to the vendor, reaffirming their commitment to resolving the situation. The matter is currently under investigation, with potential criminal activity being considered.

Despite this setback, the Bimbé Cultural Arts Festival, which celebrates African and African American heritage, arts, and traditions, will proceed as planned, featuring a lineup of regional performers. The city apologizes to festival attendees for the disappointment and is working diligently to prevent similar incidents in the future.