Nigerian Afrobeats star D’Banj has revealed that his legal team has officially contacted American music legend Marc Anthony over the unauthorized use of his 2012 hit single Oliver Twist.
The issue arose after Marc Anthony released a song titled Muevense, the lead track of his 2024 album of the same name, which interpolates elements from D’Banj’s Afrobeats classic without permission.
Speaking in a recent interview on Adesope Live, D’Banj disclosed that while he initially felt proud that an artist of Marc Anthony’s stature drew inspiration from his music, the situation had to be handled professionally due to its commercial implications. “Marc Anthony sampling my song was one of my greatest highlights last year,” D’Banj said. “It sounded like a Latin version of Oliver Twist. I was happy at first because of who he is, but my legal team had to step in.”
The singer stressed the importance of securing proper clearance before sampling any artist’s work, noting that no effort was made to reach out before Muevense was officially released. “He didn’t reach out to me. The song wasn’t cleared, and he put it out officially,” D’Banj added. “I don hammer… God works in mysterious ways. The good thing is it’s already released, and my legal people are handling it. They’re going high.”
Oliver Twist, released in 2012, was a landmark track for Afrobeats on the global stage. The song charted in the UK Top 10 and helped introduce Nigerian pop music to international audiences, making its unauthorized use by a major international act especially significant.
D’Banj’s stance showcases a broader call within the industry for proper recognition, credit, and respect for African creators whose work is increasingly being adapted by artists worldwide.
D’Banj opens up on Marc Anthony recreating “Oliver Twist” on his song without contacting him
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