Veteran singer Beautiful Nubia accuses Yinka Ayefele and BBO of copying his song melody

Veteran Nigerian artist Beautiful Nubia has publicly accused fellow musician Yinka Ayefele and another artist, BBO, of plagiarizing the melody of his original song “Seven Lifes.”

In a post on X, he expressed concern over their tracks—Ayefele’s 2012 song “My Faith in God (Igbagbo Ireti)” and BBO’s recent release “Amin”—claiming they both directly borrowed from his work.

Nubia criticized the lack of respect for copyright and originality among Nigerian musicians, particularly in the gospel genre. His post ignited a lively discussion on social media, drawing a variety of opinions.

One user countered Nubia’s claim, suggesting that creativity in music and literature often builds on previous works, citing intertextuality and the idea that all melodies are influenced by earlier sounds.

Another user noted that they had also perceived similarities when hearing BBO’s “Amin.” Many defended the accused musicians, arguing that artists frequently take inspiration from their influences and that resemblances do not necessarily imply intent to copy.

Additionally, one commenter pointed out that BBO had mentioned before the controversy that he was inspired by “Amin” during his NYSC days.