Konga, a veteran singer, is demanding 60 per cent of the earnings from Burna Boy's song 'Update', claiming that the Afrobeats star sampled him without permission. Konga made this assertion in a recent episode of the Hits Don't Lie podcast. According to him, Burna Boy refused to reach out to him even after Konga called him out peacefully a few months ago.
Burna Boy had reportedly agreed to pay American singer Toni Braxton 60 per cent of the earnings from his 2022 hit 'Last Last' for sampling her song 'He Wasn't Man Enough'. Konga found it puzzling that Burna Boy could do this for Toni Braxton but not for him. Konga has been preventing his lawyers from taking legal action against Burna Boy, citing his admiration for the artist's music and his contribution to African music's global advancement.
Konga also revealed that Burna Boy had previously sampled his lyrics in the remix of 'Sungba' with Asake. In response, Konga decided to sample Burna Boy without permission, a move that suggests a deeper issue in their relationship.
Burna Boy's decision to sample Konga without permission is a glaring example of the music industry's lack of respect for intellectual property rights in Nigeria. The fact that Burna Boy agreed to pay Toni Braxton 60 per cent of the earnings from 'Last Last' but was unwilling to do the same for Konga raises questions about his commitment to fair play. This incident highlights the need for a clear and enforceable copyright law in Nigeria that protects the rights of artists like Konga. Everyday Nigerians deserve better from the artists they admire, and it's time for the music industry to take responsibility for its actions.
