By Ghazali Ibrahim
Nigerian music act Lawal Olumo also known as Konga has intensified his dispute with Afrobeats star Burna Boy, demanding a 60% of his earnings over claims that his style and lines were used without permission.
The controversy, which has been building since 2025, resurfaced after Konga publicly accused Burna Boy of incorporating elements of his sound into songs such as Sungba Remix and Update without proper credit.
In earlier statements shared via social media, Konga said the Grammy-winning singer had “used some of my lines and even my rhythm,” while acknowledging admiration for his craft.
He initially sought compensation through a collaboration request, asking Burna Boy and Tiwa Savage to feature on his Kabakaba Remix. Since he didn’t honour his request, he has also decided to sample Burna Boy without permission.
However, the dispute has now taken a sharper turn, with Konga reportedly insisting on a substantial percentage reportedly as high as 60 percent of royalties if the alleged sampling is formally recognised.
The demand appears to draw comparisons with international sampling arrangements, such as Burna Boy’s own revelation that American singer Toni Braxton earns a large share of royalties from his hit song Last Last due to its use of her earlier work.
If Toni Braxton is having 60% royalty of Last Last, why can’t he do the same thing to come and meet me first, talk to me?,” Konga asked.
While Burna Boy has not publicly responded to the latest claim, the situation highlights growing conversations in Nigeria’s music industry around intellectual property, sampling rights, and compensation for creative influence.
He disclosed that he has been preventing his lawyers from taking legal action against Burna Boy because he loves his music and is proud of his contribution to the global advancement of African music.
The renewed tension comes amid broader legal and commercial disputes surrounding Burna Boy’s catalogue and ownership rights, further placing the global star at the centre of multiple industry debates.
Observers say the outcome of the disagreement could set a precedent for how informal musical influences and direct sampling claims are handled within Afrobeats, an industry increasingly gaining global recognition and scrutiny.
