1.0 Introduction
In 2024, Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Tems released ‘Love Me JeJe’, a modern reimagining of Seyi Sodimu’s 1997 hit ‘Love Me Jeje’. The song was widely celebrated for introducing a beloved classic to a new generation of listeners while showcasing how older musical works can inspire contemporary creativity. Behind the success of the record, however, lies an important legal and commercial reality: using elements of an existing song is rarely as simple as it sounds.
Music sampling has become a defining feature of modern music production. Across genres such as Afrobeats, hip-hop, and pop music, artists and producers frequently incorporate portions of existing recordings into new works. While sampling continues to drive creativity and innovation, it also raises important questions about ownership, licensing, and royalty allocation. Who owns the rights in a sampled song? Whose consent is required before a sample can be used? And who is entitled to
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