Society Gists

Veteran singer and performer, Majek Fashek, has accused R&B singer Timi Dakolo of stealing his song ‘Send down the rain’.

It could be recalled that Timi did a remix of the song in 2013 but it appears he never sought permission from Majek Fashek before doing the remix.

Speaking with Saturday Beats, Fashek accused Dakolo of taking advantage of his state of health and remade his song without permission.

He said:
“He broke the rules of copyright. He is a thief because in music business, he must take permission before he works on someone’s song. That is why we have COSON. I did not give anyone the right to do anything with my song. I have a management team I work with headed by Omenka Uzoma. Dakolo never bothered to look for me before stealing my song. He has infringed on the laws of copyright and he is not an original artiste. It is only people like Tuface, Wizkid, Olamide that are original.
“I felt bad when I learnt that he worked on my song without my consent. He did not even give me credit. He is a very bad artiste and he took advantage of the circumstance that I was facing during that time. The song is not a normal song; it is a spiritual hit song. Timi Dakolo does not know how I suffered to get that song. I fasted for seven days before I got that song. I partook in three days ‘white’ fasting before the song came to me. Timi Dakolo did not go through that. I did not fight him because I do not have time. Let God judge us.”
Commenting on the situation, Majek Fashek’s music business consultant, Omenka Uzoma, said they would soon kick off a legal battle with all those who have been exploiting the music veteran.

Timi Dakolo in his reaction has said there are no court charges filed against him.

Speaking in a telephone chat, the singer angrily said:
“I am not in the country. There is no allegation levelled against me. Go ahead and write a better story. I am not in Nigeria.”
What is an original artiste? Do they exist in Nigeria?