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Pic: Burna Boy. Photo source: Wikipedia
News Story:
In a surprising legal twist shaking the music world, Haitian music veteran Fabrice Rouzier has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Nigerian Grammy winner Burna Boy in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
Rouzier accuses Burna Boy, whose real name is Damini Ogulu, of unlawfully incorporating substantial elements from his 2002 classic Je Vais into a newly released track titled 4 Kampe II. Also named in the lawsuit is French-Haitian singer Joe Dwet File (Joe Gilles), who initially dropped the original 4 Kampe version in late 2024.
According to Rouzier’s claims, he had already confronted Gilles with a cease-and-desist letter after the first 4 Kampe release, alleging that it heavily borrowed from Je Vais. Court documents suggest Gilles admitted to using Rouzier’s material without permission. Yet, despite this admission, Gilles proceeded to collaborate with Burna Boy on 4 Kampe II, intensifying what Rouzier describes as “continued violation” of his creative work.
Rouzier’s complaint details that 4 Kampe II carries lyrical phrases, melodies, and thematic elements closely resembling Je Vais, notably the French line “Chérie, ou sou sa kampe” — a phrase he says mirrors both the lyrics and spirit of his original song.
Furthermore, the lawsuit asserts that Burna Boy was aware of Gilles’ prior infringement claims before participating in the remix, thereby deepening the alleged offense. Rouzier now seeks monetary damages, legal costs, and an injunction preventing further use or distribution of the disputed material, including orders to destroy any existing copies.
This legal battle adds to a growing trend, arriving just two weeks after Nigerian superstar Davido faced a separate copyright infringement lawsuit in the U.S. from fellow Nigerian artists over the alleged unauthorized use of their song Work.
The case signals another major copyright controversy involving prominent Afrobeat artists on the global stage, igniting conversations about originality, creative ownership, and respect for artistic rights across international music borders.
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