My issue with Team Eternity over ‘Defe Defe’ amicably solved – Kwame Mickey

Ghanaian music producer, Kwame Mickey, has officially resolved the dispute regarding Team Eternity Ghana’s utilization of ‘Defe Defe’ lyrics in their latest track.

A press release issued by Kwame Mickey via his OFM company confirms that the matter concerning Team Eternity Ghana’s incorporation of a segment from the pre-existing song ‘Defe Defe’ into their new song, also titled ‘Defe Defe’, has been settled amicably.

According to the statement, “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 will be recalled that Kwame Mickey, the executive producer of Hallelujah Voices’ ‘Defe Defe’, previously accused Team Eternity Ghana of copyright infringement for using the ‘defe defe’ phrase in their latest hit song.

In a Facebook post sighted by Ameyaw Debrah Media, Kwame mentioned, “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 also took action by contacting Youtube to restrict the visibility of Team Eternity’s ‘Defe Defe’ on the platform until copyright matters were resolved.

This incident sparked discussions on social media. While some argue that ‘Defe Defe’ is not an original creation of Hallelujah Voices, hence they cannot claim ownership, others point out similarities in the lyrics.

Hallelujah Voices sing “manhyia Nyame a anka ɔbonsam ayɛ me defe defe,” while Team Eternity sings “manhyia Nyame a anka y’ayɛ me defe defe.” In Twi, ‘Defe defe’ is an adverb used to emphasize the severity of an unpleasant situation. Other synonyms for ‘defe defe’ include ‘pasa pasa’ and ‘basa basa’.

Despite the differences in rhythmic patterns and melodic phrases between the two lines, Kwame Mickey argues for the similarities in the lyrical content.