Entertainment pundit, MC Yaa Yeboah
Entertainment pundit MC Yaa Yeboah has shared her thoughts on the controversy between the executive producer of Hallelujah Voices, Kwame Mickey, and Team Eternity over copyright issues.
She pointed out that, after comparing the two songs featuring the phrase 'Defe Defe,' she is fully convinced that Team Eternity took significant inspiration from Mickey's existing song.
The pundit indicated that Team Eternity should have sought permission from the producer or fulfilled any requirements before using a similar phrase in their song to avoid controversy.
Speaking on the United Showbiz programme aired on UTV and monitored by GhanaWeb, Yaa Yeboah said, "In my humble opinion, without any shred of doubt, Team Eternity took major inspiration from Hallelujah Voices' 'Defe Defe.' Initially, people thought it was just the word 'Defe Defe,' which is not the case. Even the ad-lib in the new song is in the old one. If you listen to the line 'Manhyia Nyame a anka ɔbonsam ayɛ me defe defe,' it's in the new song by Team Eternity.
"Although these are common words, it is someone who has formulated them to make meaning. So once you pick it, the best thing for you to do is to seek the person's permission."
She also commended Team Eternity for how they handled the issue since it gained attention on social media.
"I also like the fact that Team Eternity did not come out to talk about the whole issue. I'm sure people reached out to them for an interview, but they declined. The controversy has even made the song bigger," Yaa Yeboah added.
She commented in reaction to Mickey's claim that Team Eternity Ghana had 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.
Watch the video below:
No doubt, Team Eternity took strong inspiration from Kwame Mickey's 'Defe Defe' song - @mc_yaa_yeboah #UnitedShowbiz pic.twitter.com/xNrEC6pH7B
— UTV Ghana (@utvghana) June 23, 2024
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