‘Defe Defe’ Conflict Resolved

Ghanaian music produce, Kwame Mickey, has announced the resolution of a dispute involving Team Eternity Ghana’s use of lyrics from the song ‘Defe Defe’ in their new release, also titled ‘Defe Defe’.

A statement from his company, OFM, confirmed that the issue had been amicably settled, stating, “the issue that arose concerning Team Eternity Ghana’s use of a portion of the existing song titled ‘Defe Defe’ in their new song also titled ‘Defe Defe’ has been amicably resolved.”

“The parties have duly entered into a Licence Agreement under which Kwame Mickey grants to Team Eternity Ghana the non-executive right to use in the new song, those words derived from the existing song,” it further states.

A few weeks ago, Kwame Mickey, the executive producer for Hallelujah Voices’ ‘Defe Defe,’ accused Team Eternity Ghana of copyright infringement for using the ‘defe defe’ line in their new hit song.

He wrote: “Who is that Defe Defe singer? If I start right now them go say I am ‘mansonia’. What is the difference between the two songs? Somebody tell her to report and do the needful. That’s all.”

He went ahead to write to Youtube to disable the visibility of Team Eternity’s ‘Defe Defe’ on the view platform until they sorted out copyright issues with him.

This generated debates on social media. While some assert that ‘Defe Defe’ is not an expression created by Hallelujah Voices, for which reason they cannot lay claim to it, others say there are similarities in the lyrics. Hallelujah Voices sing “manhyia Nyame a anka ɔbonsam ayɛ me defe defe,” and Team Eternity sing “manhyia Nyame a anka y’ayɛ me defe defe.”

“Defe defe,” a Twi adverb, signifies the severity of an adverse situation and shares synonyms like “pasa pasa” and “basa basa.”

Kwame Mickey contends that despite distinct rhythmic and melodic structures, there are similarities in lyrical content.

The song “Defe Defe,” performed by Hallelujah Voices, was penned by Osuani Afrifa and produced by Kwame Mickey under Kaakyire Music Productions in 2004.