Mike Ejagha’s 1983 timeless song “Gwo Gwo Gwo Ngwo” has taken the internet by storm, thanks to comedian Brain Jotter’s viral dance challenge.
However, a brewing dispute over royalties threatens to overshadow the celebratory mood.
The song, originally part of Ejagha’s album “Akuko N’Egwu Vol. 1,” tells the story of the tortoise in a way that educates, entertains, and informs listeners.
A Timeless Classic Reborn
Four decades later, the song has become an internet sensation, with millions of views and a dancing challenge that has taken social media by storm.
The song’s title, “Ka Esi Le Onye isi Oche,” loosely translates to “Don’t mock someone who has fallen.” Brain Jotter’s skit brought the song from obscurity to the limelight, earning him millions in revenue.
Royalty Dispute Alarm
Brain Jotter announced a frantic search for the 93-year-old Mike Ejagha, intending to gift him N2 million from what many felt was the revenue generated by the song.
This gesture sparked a heated debate, with many questioning why such a paltry sum was offered to the legendary musician.
Netizens wondered why Brain Jotter would give such a small amount, leading to a high-decibel slanging match between those calling for proper compensation and fans of Brain Jotter.
Intellectual Property Expert Weighs In
Bayo Alabi, an intellectual property expert, stated, “The law is crystal clear on intellectual property.” He emphasized the importance of proper acknowledgement and compensation for the original content owner.
According to Alabi, the dispute falls under the Copyright Act, which protects original works from the moment of creation. “To avoid litigation, firstly, give proper acknowledgement to the owner of the content you are about to use in your work,” he advised.
Different Opinion
Patrick Doyle, a Nollywood actor and producer, was also reported to have disagreed with those suggesting copyright infringements.
“The duration sound clip as used is less than the required duration to qualify for royalty sharing on what is essentially an audio-visual work conceived by Brain Jotter.” the veteran actor was quoted as saying.
Brain Jotter’s Clarification
Knowing that silence may not be golden in situations like this, Brain Jotter addressed concerns about potential exploitation, stating, “For those who think we ripped him off or we’re making money from this whole thing, I understand your concerns and they are very valid.”
He explained that all revenue generated from the song on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube goes directly to Mike Ejagha’s record label and production company.
“At the end of the day, no dime was made from this song by me, nothing like that,” Brain Jotter clarified.
A Positive Outcome
Despite the dispute, the viral challenge has increased streams of the song on streaming platforms, with all revenues going straight to Mike Ejagha.
Brain Jotter also confirmed he gave Ejeagha N2m but he said it was his hard-earned money not from any profit made on the viral song.
The skitmaker expressed gratitude for the joy the challenge has brought and considered the joy in Ejagha’s heart as his profit.
“We got the reward, which is the joy in his heart now. The joy in his heart now is my profit,” he said.
Peoplesmind
