“Afrobeats Lacks Originality” — Mr Real Slams Rampant Song Theft in Nigerian Music Industry

|By Oko-Echem Agnes

Nigerian music artist, Okafor Uchenna Victor, better known as Mr Real, has raised alarm over what he described as the widespread theft of intellectual property in the country’s music industry.

The ‘Legbegbe’ crooner, in a recent interview with Hip TV, lamented that Afrobeats has lost its originality, alleging that many of the genre’s songs and ideas are often copied without credit. He said the trend has become so common that even upcoming artists, who are the hardest hit, rarely get justice because they lack the fan base and influence to speak out.

Mr Real further alleged that some veteran musicians who complain about song theft are also guilty of the same act, pointing specifically to Blackface, who has repeatedly accused others of stealing his works.

“Blackface dey always complain say dem steal him song. Afrobeats no get original songs, even Rema fit steal Omah Lay song. You see idea wey bad, if you no sharp, omo boys go run am. No time,” he said.

He noted that song theft cuts across all levels of the industry, from rising talents to established stars, warning that the culture of copying without credit continues to threaten creativity and authenticity in Afrobeats.