Maskandi musician Mjikijelwa “Ichalaha” Ngubane.
Photo by Jabulani Langa
POPULAR maskandi artist Mjikijelwa Ngubane, better known
as “Ichalaha Likashafuza”, is in hot water.
Ichalaha is accused of stealing a song from a capella group, The
Soil, without their permission.
Ichalaha did a cover version of The Soil’s Mkhululwa
maskandi-style without the group’s permission and never gave them
credit.
His song titled, Mkhululi Ngiyahamba, and is
featured in his album, Amagcukumane.
Sunday Sun sources said the song was also voted for
Ukhozi FM’s best top 10 maskandi songs on New Year’s Eve. The album is said to
be selling like hot cakes.
But Ichalaha’s joy could soon turn to sorrow as The Soil is
threatening legal action.
The Soil’s manager Sipho Sithole said the song is from the album Nostalgic Moments.
“The re-recording of the song is not an issue as it’s a cover
version. The problem is the artist who’s covering the song claims to be the
composer!” he said.
“That’s completely unethical and bordering on theft and fraud. The
song was composed by The Soil, therefore the The Soil, as composers, will earn
both performance royalties and mechanical royalties.
“We’ll approach both the Southern African Music Rights Organisation
and the Composers, Authors and Publishers Association to change composition
details to The Soil, so that Ichalaha doesn’t earn a cent from airplay and
mechanical royalties,” Sipho said.
Ichalaha admits he took The Soil’s song but changed it to
maskandi-style.
“I took the song as I’m a fan of The Soil and they’re my role
models,” he said.
But Sipho said being a fan doesn’t give anyone the right to
infringe on an artist, the composer and publisher’s copyright.
