Beautiful Nubia accuses gospel stars of copyright theft

Veteran Nigerian musician Beautiful Nubia has publicly accused gospel singers Yinka Ayefele and Bakare Boluwatife Oluwatobi (BBO) of lifting melodies from his 1997 album Seven Lifes.

Allegations

• Beautiful Nubia claims Ayefele copied his melody in the 2012 song My Faith in God (Igbagbo Ireti).
• He also alleges that BBO lifted from the same track in the song Amin released this year.

In a statement on X, he emphasized:

“Both stole their melodies from our original song Seven Lifes.”

He further called for respect for copyright in the Nigerian music industry, highlighting ongoing concerns about originality and intellectual property enforcement.

Context

• Seven Lifes, released in 1997, showcases Beautiful Nubia’s fusion of folk, roots, and socially conscious music.
• The controversy underscores recurring copyright disputes in Nigeria, particularly within the gospel and folk music scenes.

This accusation has sparked discussions about artistic integrity and the need for stricter copyright protections in Nigerian music.