Nigerian folk singer Beautiful Nubia has accused gospel artistes Yinka Ayefele and BBO of copyright infringement, alleging that they copied the core melody of his song Seven Lifes.
Beautiful Nubia, whose real name is Segun Akinlolu, made the allegation in a post shared on X on Thursday. He claimed that Ayefele’s 2012 track My Faith in God Igbagbo Ireti and BBO’s 2026 song Amin borrowed heavily from his original composition.
In his statement, the singer questioned when Nigerian musicians, particularly gospel artistes, would begin to respect copyright laws. He wrote that both songs stole their melos from Seven Lifes and expressed frustration over what he described as repeated disregard for intellectual property rights within the industry.
As of the time of reporting, neither Ayefele nor BBO had publicly responded to the allegation.
The accusation adds to a growing list of intellectual property disputes in Nigeria’s gospel music scene. In 2024, acclaimed gospel singer Sinach faced a lawsuit from producer Michael Oluwole, who claimed co authorship of her global hit Way Maker. Sinach denied the allegation, insisting she was the sole writer of the song, which went on to achieve widespread international recognition.
Industry observers note that copyright disputes have become more frequent as Nigerian music gains broader global reach and commercial value. Legal experts say that clearer documentation of songwriting credits and proper licensing agreements are essential to reduce conflicts and protect creative works.
The latest controversy is expected to spark renewed conversations about copyright enforcement and ethical standards within the Nigerian music industry.
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