A solution to the controversy surrounding Team Eternity Ghana’s use of ‘Defe Defe’ lyrics in their new song has been presented by Ghanaian music producer Kwame Mickey.
Through his OFM firm, Kwame Mickey released a statement announcing that“the issue that arose concerning Team Eternity Ghana’s use of a portion of the existing song titled ‘Defe Defe’ in their new song also titled ‘Defe Defe’ has been amicably resolved.”
“The parties have duly entered into a Licence Agreement under which Kwame Mickey grants to Team Eternity Ghana the non-executive right to use in the new song, those words derived from the existing song,” it further states.
A few weeks ago, Kwame Mickey, the executive producer of Hallelujah Voices’ “Defe Defe,” claimed that Team Eternity Ghana had violated his copyright by utilizing the phrase “defe defe” in their brand-new popular song.
He wrote: “Who is that Defe Defe singer? If I start right now them go say I am ‘mansonia’. What is the difference between the two songs? Somebody tell her to report and do the needful. That’s all.”
He continued by sending a letter to YouTube requesting that Team Eternity’s “Defe Defe” not be visible on the viewing site until they resolved his copyright concerns.
Discussions over this arose on social media. Some contend that Hallelujah Voices did not create “Defe Defe,” hence they cannot claim credit for it, while others point out that the lyrics have resemblance. “Manhyia Nyame an anka ɔbonsam ayɛ me defe defe,” sung by Hallelujah Voices, and “manhyia Nyame an anka y’ayɛ me defe defe,” performed by Team Eternity.
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The Twi adverb “defe defe” is used to highlight the seriousness of a bad circumstance. Another word for “defe defe” is “pasa pasa,” and another word for “basa basa.”
Kwame Mickey is arguing for the parallels in the lyrical substance despite the structural differences between the two lines’ melodic phrases and rhythmic rhythms.
Osuani Afrifa wrote the song “Defe Defe,” which is sung by Hallelujah Voices. Kwame Mickey served as executive producer for Kaakyire Music Productions. 2004 saw its release.
