Nuances of xenophobia permeated the discourse over Deep London and Boohle‘s copyright claims when a derivative of their hit record Hamba Wena, interpolated by Nigerian star Smada, went viral on social media.
Deep London and Boohle cry foul over Smada alleged copyright infringement
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The Amapiano duo behind the hit song nominated for Record of the Year at the 2023 SAMAs sent social media into a raucous when they accused Smada, real name Adams Olabode Michael, of copyright theft.
Quoting a post by Smada from 27 October 2023, Deep London confirmed he’s taking legal action against the Nigerian singer.
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“The legal action against this [SuperSmada] have been taken . This guy will pay … This is copyrights infringement..” Deep London posted.
While the matter may be adjudicated and thoroughly dissected in legal avenues, it doesn’t take an experienced authority in copyright law to presume Deep London has a very strong case.
His hit record, released under Cycad Waves (Pty) Ltd on 29 July 2023, carries every bit of instrumentation, rhythm and rhyme found in Smada’s version, which officially surfaced on streaming platforms on 27 October 2023.
Deep London’s accusations, while valid, prompted virtual clashes between South African and Nigerian fans of Amapiano, refuelling longstanding tensions between the two African superpowers.
Smada has yet to respond to Deep London’s accusations formally. The Nigerian singer did, however, throw a subtle jab, riding the wave of the infamy he’s attracted with the oddly irresistible and catchy “Smada eh, Smada ah” chorus.
Check out some of the commentary around the copyright saga below:
