Ghanaian singer-songwriter and record producer Afriyie Wutah has accused Nigeria’s Burna Boy of using melodies from his song without his permission nor giving him due credit.
Afriyie was referring to his hit ‘Here to Stay’ and Burna Boy’s new hit ‘Common Person’. The singer was on Accra 100.5 FM’s mid-morning show Ayekoo Ayekoo, Thursday, February 23, 2023, speaking to host Nana Romeo.
“For how long will this go on?” Afriyie questioned, shrugging. Romeo wondered why he would not confront Burna about the allegation. Afriyie’s response was “the fire [controversy] that would follow would be massive. I don’t want any trouble.”
He added that all he wants is for people to notice what has happened for themselves and “that’s enough.” However, commenting on ‘Common Person’, he confessed that:
“Trust me, [it’s a] beautiful song.” Afriyie also admitted it is possible two songs would bear similarities without the individual musicians hearing their respective songs beforehand.
He contended, however, that some similarities are too detailed to be sheer coincidences. “You can’t take [copy] three minutes and claim you’ve not heard the original song before,” he emphasised. “You’d be lying.”
The guitarist also indicated that aside from “a beat” from the late Highlife icon Nana Ampadu’s repertoire which he used for a song featuring Sarkodie, ‘Go Gaaga’, he has never sampled or copied from anyone.
He revealed that he asked for Ampadu’s permission in advance. Ampadu eventually hearing the song, “was elated and asked why I hadn’t invited him to sing about two bars on it,” Afriyie added. “We laughed over that and didn’t talk again until his passing.” The latest from the musician often called Afriyie Wutah is called ‘Cheers to Life’.
Watch excerpts of the interview below
View this post on Instagram
