8 Ghanaian artistes accused of stealing songs

Over the years, some of Ghana’s multiple award-winning stars have been accused by mostly upcoming artistes of musical plagiarism. In fact, most of the songs in question have either won awards or topped charts across the country.

You May Also Love To Read This: 10 hyped collabos that flopped this year

It’s unorthodox in the Ghanaian music industry to see artistes filing lawsuits over musical plagiarism but in the United States where music business means everything, it’s quotidian. This makes Ghanaian stars who are accused of musical plagiarism walk away free of charge with every piece they’ve been accused of ‘stealing’.

From Stonebwoy’s award-winning “Baafira” to Joey B’s hit “Tonga”, David Mawuli brings you 8 Ghanaian stars who have been accused of musical plagiarism. Check out the list below.

1. Guru

The NKZ Music label boss is first on my list because he has been accused of plagiarism more than any other artiste in the industry. He has been accused of stealing many unknown songs but on records, he has been accused of stealing “Bossu”, a song by an upcoming act Osagy, “Kpakpakpa Movement” (a popular term by an internet sensation) and the recent “Obumpa”, a song owned by an upcoming act Nautica. What makes “Obumpa” a case in point is the fact that when the song was done, it needed a boost and so Nautica’s management decided to approach Guru for that feature. Guru was said to have listened to the song, agreed to do the feature but requested for an amount of GHC3, 000 – an amount Nautica’s management said was too exorbitant .

According to Nautica’s manager, they shelved the idea of a Guru-feature after he requested for that amount and he was overly shocked when he was prompted to a website only to realise that the song had been posted there with Guru as the owner of the song. When Guru was contacted, he claimed that he got the song from some musicians from Brong Ahafo. According to Guru, he heard the song, liked it and featured the musicians on it and made it his own. Pope Skinny also accused his compatriot of stealing his song. Though, Pope didn’t reveal the title of the said song, he released a diss song to slam the rapper. Even recently, he was accused by Hiplife duo Ruff N Smooth for performing a song they featured him on during a concert in Gabon.

2. Stonebwoy

“No Noise” hit maker, Rashid Metal, who is signed to AfroVibez Entertainment and Zaafi Empire label accused BET Award winner Stonebwoy of stealing his hit track “Baafira”. Rashid subsequently released a diss track with the same beat. The beef lasted for months and even saw controversial Dancehall star Shatta Wale wade into it.

3. Bisa Kdei

Last year, Kumawood movie producer Paul Gee accused singer Bisa Kdei of stealing his soundtrack "Aboa Sika" for his first album.

The ace movie producer in an interview disclosed that he paid Bisa to record the song for his movie so it came to him as a surprise when he noticed that the "Song Writer of the Year" award-winner at the 2014 Ghana Music Awards had put the song on his album.

Not only that, he was, in the same year accused of stealing his chart topping track “Saa”. Sound engineer O’tion who is widely known for producing Dobble’s“Good Mood” accused him of stealing a song titled “Ewiase” – which he released before Bisa Kdei’s “Saa”.

"Aboa Sika" by Bisa Kdei

4. Joey B

Joey B has also been accused of musical plagiarism over his hit singles, “Tonga” which features Sarkodie and current hit Afrobeats single “Otoolege” which features Samini. “Tongo”, a popular term mostly used by Kumawood comic actor Kwaku Manu caused dissension when the former Black Avenue Muzik star released a track with the same title.

Kwaku Manu in a recent interview chided the rapper over the song, tagging him as an ‘ungrateful musician’. Also, an upcoming rapper and songwriter, Truth, accused him of stealing his beat for “Otoolege”. According to Truth, he released the song before Joey B’s release.

5. M.anifest

It’s quiet infelicitous to see the internationally acclaimed rapper caught in musical plagiarism. M.anifest,has also been accused of stealing the beat for his hit track “Someway Bi”. The beat for the song was picked from Umalali’s “Mérua”. Umalali is a collaborative project put together by Belizean musician and producer, Ivan Duran. The song “Mérua” was originally recorded in the year 2009 with M.anifest’s “Someway Bi” coming out in 2013.

Listen to Merua

And now listen to "Someway Bi" by M.anifest

6. Yaa Pono

In 2014, rapper Yaa Pono in an interview with BBC’s Rita Ray claimed ownership of Dark Suburb’s first major hit “I Dey Feel You Die”. “I Dey Feel You Die” was penned by Syn, the lead vocalist of Faint Medal (now Dark Suburb) and was produced by Kilo, and featured Yaa Pono. In fact, every music critic knew this so I don’t really know why Yaa Pono attempted to claim ownership of the song.

7. Asem

In 2012, Asem released a Hip-hop track “Show Something” off his Solid Ground album. Shortly after the release, Purp’man, a Ghanaian rapper based in Chicago, USA, accused Asem of stealing his music beat which he (Purp’man) used for his song “Y U Bore”. Purp’man claimed he released his track before Asem’s album.

Listen to Purp'man's "Y U Bore"

And now listen to Asem's "Show Something"

8. Edem

Edem also makes this list of infamy. He was recently accused by two acts Eduwodzi and Kosi Bone of stealing “Nyedzilo”, a song which features Mavins star Reekado Banks. Pulse.com.gh is still investigating the issue and promises to give you updates.