'Defe Defe' controversy: 'The level of ignorance displayed is saddening' - Celestine Donkor's manager

Manager and husband of renowned gospel artiste Celestine Donkor, has expressed his dismay at the "ignorance" displayed by a section of the public and stakeholders in the gospel fraternity as the brouhaha about 'Defe Defe' continues.

In a post on his Facebook handle on June 19, 2024, Kofi Donkor pointed out that many Ghanaian gospel songs released in recent years have not been registered with the copyright office.

“I am very saddened by the level of ignorance being displayed by people who are supposed to know better, but I am not surprised at all.

“Let me say this, without reaching out to the copyright office, I can say without any shadow of a doubt that more than 90% of the gospel songs released in the last couple of years have not been registered with the copyright office. Infact, someone who is supposed to know better even asked me if we have a copyright office in Ghana,” he posted.

His comments come amid the heated debate over the song 'Defe Defe,' which has brought to light broader issues concerning copyright practices within the industry.

He also highlighted the situation at the Ghana Music Rights Organization (GHAMRO), which is supposed to be in charge of music copyrights, sharing the story of an A-list artiste who was allegedly unable to find anyone to assist him at the office.

“We treat GHAMRO even worse! I was scandalized when one of our A-listed artistes said he visited GHAMRO and there was no one to receive him, really?

“Most of us do not even understand what GHAMRO is about mpo. All we know is to bash chairman Rex Omar and the team without paying attention to the issues that confront them,” he added.

Donkor also criticized the gospel music community for focusing more on awards and recognition rather than understanding the legal and business aspects of music.

He expressed his hope that the current 'Defe Defe' case will serve as a wake-up call for artistes to educate themselves on copyright laws and the importance of registering their work.

“We are so much fixated on who wins Gospel Artiste of the Year than on learning the structures of that practice.

“May this case open our eyes to learn and understand the legalities and business side of music,” he said.

Background

Kwame Mickey, the executive producer for Hallelujah Voices, claims that Team Eternity Ghana has unlawfully used the 'Defe Defe' phrase in their new song.

While some argue that the expression 'Defe Defe' cannot be owned by Hallelujah Voices, others point out lyrical similarities between the two songs.

Hallelujah Voices' version includes the line "Manhyia Nyame a anka ɔbonsam ayɛ me defe defe," while Team Eternity's rendition goes "Manhyia Nyame a anka y’ayɛ me defe defe."

The dispute has generated conversations on the topic of copyright laws and the need for artistes to obtain permission before incorporating elements of others' work into their own creations.

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