Award-winning Afrobeat star Davido has come under fire on social media after a video surfaced of him reaching out to legendary highlife icon Bright Chimezie—after allegedly drawing inspiration from Chimezie’s classic track, “Because of English,” for his recent song “With You,” featuring Omah Lay.
While many fans praised the heartfelt moment and commended Davido for recognising a music legend, some critics questioned the timing of the gesture. A viral post on X (formerly Twitter) by user @ofuObi took a swipe at the artist, suggesting the sudden homage might have been triggered more by legal pressure than genuine admiration.
“You go fear lawsuit,” the user wrote. “This should have been done. Agreements should have been reached before being ‘inspired.’”
In the now-viral video, Davido is seen engaging in a warm conversation with Bright Chimezie, expressing his appreciation for the legend’s influence on his music. He disclosed that Chimezie’s storytelling and unique rhythm played a significant role in shaping “With You,” which has been making waves across streaming platforms.
The exchange, however, reignited debates on intellectual property and the ethics of post-release recognition, especially in a music industry where sampling and inspiration often blur legal boundaries.
As of now, there’s no indication that Bright Chimezie is pursuing legal action. Still, the incident has sparked broader conversations about how African artists navigate copyright, inspiration, and respect for musical pioneers in an era where digital virality can quickly lead to legal scrutiny.
Shola Akinyele
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