Yinka Ayefele has reacted to allegations of copyright infringement levelled against him by fellow artiste Beautiful Nubia, amid a growing controversy surrounding the ownership of a disputed song melody.
Ayefele addressed the issue on Tuesday via a post on his verified Instagram page, where he appeared to challenge the allegation and questioned the true origin of the composition in question.
“WHO IS THE COMPOSER OF EBAMI GBONDO YI GBE ..JANGBALAJUGBU …. Who was acknowledged.. INFRINGEMENT AYE..” he wrote.
His response follows claims made by Beautiful Nubia, who accused Ayefele and another artiste, BBO, of using the melody of his song without proper credit. The singer had earlier taken to Instagram to express frustration over what he described as a recurring trend of Nigerian gospel musicians copying original works without acknowledgment.
“There was Yinka Ayefele with My Faith in God (Igbagbo Ireti) in 2012 and now someone called BBO with ‘Amin’ this year. Both stole their melodies from our original song ‘Seven Lifes’. When will Nigerians (especially the so-called gospel musicians) learn to respect copyright?” he wrote.
According to Beautiful Nubia, Ayefele’s 2012 song My Faith in God (Igbagbo Ireti) and BBO’s 2026 track Amin bear striking similarities to his earlier composition titled Seven Lifes.
Known for his socially conscious lyrics and advocacy for cultural preservation, Beautiful Nubia has consistently promoted originality and respect for intellectual property within Nigeria’s creative space.
Ayefele, on the other hand, remains a prominent figure in Yoruba gospel music, with a career spanning several decades and numerous inspirational songs to his credit.
Copyright disputes continue to surface within Nigeria’s music industry, especially in cases involving melodies, traditional influences, and sampling, often leading to public disagreements among artistes.
Legal experts have repeatedly advised musicians to formally document their creative works and seek legal redress when conflicts arise over intellectual property.
As of the time of filing this report, BBO has not publicly reacted to the allegation.
