Mabel Tiwaa the Original ‘Defe Defe’ singer speaks for the first time over copyright dispute

To the ongoing copyright dispute surrounding the hit song “Defe Defe,” Mabel Tiwaa Rockson, the original singer from Hallelujah Voices, has broken her silence. The acclaimed singer expressed her dismay at the handling of the issue by Team Eternity, the group behind the recent rendition of “Defe Defe.”

Kwame Mickey, the original producer of Hallelujah Voices’ “Defe Defe,” has publicly called on Team Eternity to address the alleged copyright infringement. He insists that portions of his original composition were sampled without permission, prompting him to seek appropriate compensation and recognition.

In an exclusive interview with Kumasi-based Hello FM, Mabel Tiwaa Rockson revealed her initial reaction upon hearing Team Eternity’s version of the song. “When I first heard their rendition, I enjoyed it and even considered a remix,” she disclosed. However, she expressed disappointment that Team Eternity did not approach her or the original producers sooner to discuss the use of the song.

“My children were singing their version, and I thought they had created something new,” Rockson explained. “It was only later that Kwame Mickey informed us about the issue on social media. I felt that if they had approached us earlier, we could have resolved this more amicably.”

Rockson further revealed her discontent with Team Eternity’s approach to the matter. “They called my husband and suggested we handle this as Christians, not in the way that secular artists might,” she stated. “This suggestion offended me because it implied a judgment about how we should handle our rights.”

The original “Defe Defe” song by Hallelujah Voices, composed by Osuani Afrifa and produced by Kwame Mickey, was released in 2004 under Kaakyire Music Productions. Its recent resurgence due to the copyright dispute has sparked a heated debate among music enthusiasts and legal experts alike.

While some argue that Team Eternity’s rendition differs significantly from the original, others contend that any unauthorized sampling constitutes a breach of copyright law. The outcome of this dispute could have significant implications for how similar cases are handled within Ghana’s music industry.

As the controversy unfolds, stakeholders eagerly await further developments to see how this copyright clash will be resolved and what precedents it might set for future disputes in the Ghanaian music scene.