Monwa warns DJ Mahoota over remake
I WROTE THIS SONG
ORLANDO Hangover was one of the biggest township pop dance hits in the 1980s but its return as a 21st century mega blast has stirred up controversy.
Original composer Monwabisi Yekani released the song in 1987 under the stage name Monwa and Sun with fellow musician Sun Nkotsoe.
Now, more than two decades later, Zynne Sibika a kwaito pioneer who
– made a name for himself as a member of Trompies and is now a household name on the DJ and house circuit as DJ Mahoota has unearthed this golden
– treasure from the musical archives. He calls it Via Orlando. The current version appears on a blockbuster 30-track album titled Dinaledi and released under DJ Vetkuk vs Mahoota, featuring Dr Malinga. Monwa s name does not appear on
’ the song credits. The current crop of musicians don t “’ understand copyright laws. Any artist who records someone else s song with
’ out following procedure with the original publishers of the song exposes himself to a possible lawsuit,” he says. They can say what they like, but the “whole world knows I wrote this song.”
It was one of the six tracks that made up his debut album Majekeje , released under the Cool Spot label with EMI as the distributors.
The new version was remade and produced by Uhuru and the composers are listed as Zynne Mahoota Sibika,
“” Jotham DJ Vetkuk Mbuyisa, Themba
“” Sekowe, Sihle Dlalisa and Celimpilo Simelane, with Dr Malinga taking credit for the lyrics.
But Sibika says there was no copyright infringement. We deal with publishing companies, “not individual artists. In this case we approached Cool Spot [Productions] for permission to redo the song.
I can t shed much light on the list of “’ composers who are credited for this song as we got the names from Cool Spot. Some composers have a tendency to “cry foul when a covered song becomes a hit,” says Sibika.
Veteran producer and Cool Spot executive Mally Watson can t immedi
’ ately say whether DJ Mahoota and company got permission to record the song but is convinced their crediting is flawed.
This song was originally published “by Wot Songs, and recorded and released by Cool Spot Productions not Kalawa
– Jazmee Records or Bombjeez/ Sony ATV, as the album credits indicate,” says Watson. Wot Songs should have been cred“ited as the original publisher. But I ll
’ check with my partner Ken Haycock, who is currently in London.”
Bombjeez/ATV manager Shafieka Jardine declines to comment.
Sipho Dlamini, the GM of the South African Music Rights Organisation, says his organisation is investigating the mat
ter.