Entertainment / Music
Maskandi in war over copyright
10 Jan 2016 at 13:15hrs | Views
POPULAR South African maskandi artist Mjikijelwa Ngubane, better known as "Ichalaha Likashafuza", is in hot water.
Ichalaha is accused of stealing a song from a capella group, The Soil, without their permission.
Ichalaha did a cover version of The Soil's Mkhululwa maskandi-style without the group's permission and never gave them credit.
His song titled, Mkhululi Ngiyahamba, and is featured in his album, Amagcukumane.
Sunday Sun sources said the song was also voted for Ukhozi FM's best top 10 maskandi songs on New Year's Eve. The album is said to be selling like hot cakes.
But Ichalaha's joy could soon turn to sorrow as The Soil is threatening legal action.
The Soil's manager Sipho Sithole said the song is from the album Nostalgic Moments.
"The re-recording of the song is not an issue as it's a cover version. The problem is the artist who's covering the song claims to be the composer!" he said. "That's completely unethical and bordering on theft and fraud. The song was composed by The Soil, therefore the The Soil, as composers, will earn both performance royalties and mechanical royalties. We'll approach both the Southern African Music Rights Organisation and the Composers, Authors and Publishers Association to change composition details to The Soil, so that Ichalaha doesn't earn a cent from airplay and mechanical royalties."
Ichalaha admits he took The Soil's song but changed it to maskandi-style.
"I took the song as I'm a fan of The Soil and they're my role models," he said.
But Sipho said being a fan doesn't give anyone the right to infringe on an artist, the composer and publisher's copyright.
Ichalaha is accused of stealing a song from a capella group, The Soil, without their permission.
Ichalaha did a cover version of The Soil's Mkhululwa maskandi-style without the group's permission and never gave them credit.
His song titled, Mkhululi Ngiyahamba, and is featured in his album, Amagcukumane.
Sunday Sun sources said the song was also voted for Ukhozi FM's best top 10 maskandi songs on New Year's Eve. The album is said to be selling like hot cakes.
But Ichalaha's joy could soon turn to sorrow as The Soil is threatening legal action.
"The re-recording of the song is not an issue as it's a cover version. The problem is the artist who's covering the song claims to be the composer!" he said. "That's completely unethical and bordering on theft and fraud. The song was composed by The Soil, therefore the The Soil, as composers, will earn both performance royalties and mechanical royalties. We'll approach both the Southern African Music Rights Organisation and the Composers, Authors and Publishers Association to change composition details to The Soil, so that Ichalaha doesn't earn a cent from airplay and mechanical royalties."
Ichalaha admits he took The Soil's song but changed it to maskandi-style.
"I took the song as I'm a fan of The Soil and they're my role models," he said.
But Sipho said being a fan doesn't give anyone the right to infringe on an artist, the composer and publisher's copyright.
Source - Daiy Sun
