Chippa fans, Nova in row over ‘war cry’

Multi-award-winning afro-pop sensation Vusi Nova is accused of stealing Chippa United Football club’s war cry As’phelelanga.

Now a lawsuit looms from fans of the PSL outfit and a man who claims he produced the song for the club.

Vusi Nova admitted that he “rearranged” the song and said he registered it as an arranger. He argues no one owns the right to the song because it is a wellknown traditional song commonly sung at cultural events.

But on its Facebook page on Tuesday, Chilli Boys fans claim rights to the song and threaten to file a complaint against Vusi Nova with the South African

Music Rights Organisation (Samro).

A statement on the page reads: “The Chippa United Supporter’s Club first recorded the song back in 2014 at SABC Studios in Port Elizabeth with the assistance of Umhlobo Wenene”.

Zwelitsha producer Siyabonga Hlekani confirmed this with the Dispatch, saying he was at the forefront of the lawsuit against Vusi Nova.

“I produced the song at 5.34 on October 21 2014 at Umhlobo Wenene studios. I registered the song as a Samro member,” he claimed.

SABC spokesperson Neo Mamodu confirmed that the song was created at the SABC studios.

I produced the song at 5.34 on October 21 2014 at Umhlobo studios