Veteran Artiste Konga Issues 60% Royalty Demand to Burna Boy Over Unauthorised Sampling of 'Kabakaba'

Veteran singer Konga demands 60% royalties from Burna Boy, citing unauthorised samples of his music and lyrics in the tracks 'Update' and 'Sungba' remix.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 27, 2026, 6:16 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from LEADERSHIP Media Group

The Dispute Over Intellectual Property in Afrobeats

A significant rift has emerged between the old guard of Nigerian music and its contemporary global icons as veteran singer Konga, known for his hit ‘Kabakaba,’ took aim at Burna Boy over copyright issues. During a recent appearance on the Hits Don’t Lie podcast, Konga expressed deep frustration regarding the use of his creative material in Burna Boy's song ‘Update.’ The veteran artiste argued that the lack of communication from the Grammy winner’s camp was a sign of disrespect toward homegrown legends who paved the way for the genre's current international success.

The "Toni Braxton Standard" for Royalties

Central to Konga's argument is the precedent set by Burna Boy’s global hit ‘Last Last,’ which sampled Toni Braxton’s ‘He Wasn’t Man Enough.’ In that instance, it was widely reported that Braxton received 60% of the song’s earnings. Konga questioned why a similar level of financial respect and transparency was not extended to him. “If Toni Braxton is getting 60%, why can’t he come and talk to me first?” Konga asked during the interview, suggesting a double standard in how international versus local intellectual property is handled by modern Afrobeats stars.

Allegations of Repeated Lyrical Borrowing

The grievance extends beyond a single track. Konga further alleged that his lyrics were utilized without permission in the ‘Sungba’ remix featuring Asake. According to Konga, he initially attempted to resolve these issues through peaceful dialogue months ago, even proposing a collaborative remix of his classic hit ‘Kabakaba’ as a way to settle the debt. However, these overtures were reportedly ignored by Burna Boy’s management, leading to the current public escalation of the dispute.