Music copyright matters in Nigeria have always been contentious. Yesterday, singer Adekunle Gold called out a Nollywood movie director, Wale Rasaq for using his music without express permission from him.
Gold expressed his discontent in a video showing parts of the movie, while he ranted in the background.
The movie, Wura Mi, which used a part of Adekunle Gold’s hit single “Orente” as one of its soundtracks aired on African Magic, a dedicated Nollywood film channel on cable television service, DSTV.
Adekunle Gold said he was appalled that none of the representatives of the director reached out to before his song was used in the movie. He said he only discovered while he was tuned to African Magic channel.
“As you can see,” he said “this is my song as a soundtrack of a movie called ‘Wura Mi’ on African Magic. Nobody reached out for permission. I just watched the movie randomly and saw that my song is being used.”
Adekunle Gold said he was displeased with the way things work in the country. But said he would not drag the maker of the movie to court in order to seek redress.
“If I decided to take it up and say my lawyers should reach out to them or my management should reach out to them and I post it publicly, some people will say I’m not being fair. Because it’s a low budget film and whatever they want to say.”
Gold said the producer of the movie should have reached out to him to seek permission to use the song.
“How’s it even right to use the song without seeking permission? Even if you don’t have money.”
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