Abeokuta, Nigeria – Legendary gospel vocalist Goke Bajowa and contemporary artist Boye Best resolved a copyright dispute on Wednesday evening during the launch of Best’s new album in Ogun State.
The conflict began a few days earlier when Bajawa warned of legal action, alleging that Best had used his classic song “Iwo Ko Lodami” in promotional material for the album launch, implying ownership of the track. In a video posted to Instagram, Bajawa described the alleged infringement and demanded clarification.
Best responded in a separate Instagram video, denying any wrongdoing and stating that the promotional clip had been created by a lounge manager without his authorization. He emphasized that he had no intention of misrepresenting the song’s authorship.
The tension eased the following night when both artists appeared together on stage at the album launch. A video shared by Bajawa on Thursday showed the two musicians exchanging a hug and performing jointly. In the footage, Bajawa said, “One love, one family. Boye is a good person. Many people have told me about him but I didn’t believe it. I think I will have to agree now with what I have seen in the last four days. God bless you. We will do a collaboration that people can stream and tidy up the paperwork.”
Their public reconciliation was attended by a host of Nigerian entertainers, including singers Alayo, KS1 Malaika, and 9ice, actor Adeniyi Johnson, and musicians Mr Latin and Dele Omo Woli.
The settlement removes a potential legal hurdle for Best’s album rollout and paves the way for a collaborative release between the two artists. Industry observers note that the episode underscores the importance of clear licensing agreements in Nigeria’s music sector, where traditional songs are frequently repurposed for contemporary projects.
The reconciliation video has been widely shared across social media platforms, reflecting both artists’ desire to move forward and highlighting the broader issue of intellectual‑property rights in the Nigerian entertainment industry. Further details on the upcoming joint project are expected in the coming weeks.
