In a brewing controversy that has reignited tensions between South African and Nigerian social media users, Nigerian artist SMADA is facing allegations of copyright infringement for his single “SMADA EH!“. The knockoff song, released on October 27, 2023, bears striking similarities to the South African hit song “Hamba Wena” by Deep London and Boohle, which was released on August 1, 2022.
Deep London and Boohle have filed a copyright infringement claim against SMADA, resulting in the removal of the song from YouTube and YouTube Music. However, the song remains available on streaming platforms like Apple Music and Spotify.
SMADA’s continued promotion of the song has sparked outrage among South African social media users, who have labeled him as a “copyright infringer” and called for Deep London and Boohle to sue him for damages. The situation has escalated into a war of words on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok, with Nigerian supporters of SMADA encouraging him to stand his ground and South Africans criticizing his actions.
Adding fuel to the fire, Nigerian rapper and singer Odumodublvck has expressed regret for singing on “SMADA EH!”. His statement has further intensified the controversy, with South Africans demanding that SMADA face the consequences of his alleged infringement.
Despite the backlash, SMADA remains defiant, continuing to promote the song on his social media channels. His videos have garnered thousands of likes and hundreds of thousands of impressions, indicating that the song still has a significant fan base.
Background
Adams Olabode Michael, professionally known as SMADA, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter signed to NATIVE Records, in partnership with Def Jam Recordings. He has gained popularity in recent months with his blend of Afrobeats and Amapiano music.
“Hamba Wena” by Deep London and Boohle is a popular South African Amapiano song that has been streamed millions of times across various platforms. The song is known for its catchy melody and infectious beat it was recently nominated for Music Video of the Year and Record of the Year at the 29th South African Music Awards.
SMADA’s “SMADA EH!” features a similar melody, structure, and rhythmic pattern to “Hamba Wena,” leading to accusations of copyright infringement. Deep London and Boohle, the creators of “Hamba Wena,” have filed a copyright infringement claim against SMADA, seeking legal action and the removal of the song from various platforms.
Odumodublvck’s Regret
Nigerian rapper and singer Odumodublvck, who featured on “SMADA EH!” ‘s videos, has expressed regret for his involvement in the song. In a statement on X, he stated that he was unaware of the copyright infringement allegations at the time of recording the video and that he would not have participated if he had known.
Updates
UrbanSway has reached out to NATIVE Records and Def Jam Recordings for comment. We will continue to make updates to this article.
