Nigerian Afrobeats legend Dbanj has informed American music superstar Marc Anthony that his legal team is pursuing an unauthorized sample of his 2012 hit song Oliver Twist.
D’banj revealed that Marc Anthony used Oliver Twist’s music in his 2024 album’s title track without obtaining permission or rights clearance in an interview with Adesope Live.
Nigerian Afrobeats icon D’banj has confirmed that his legal team has contacted American music legend Marc Anthony over the unauthorised use of his 2012 global hit, “Oliver Twist.”
In a recent interview on Adesope Live, D’banj revealed that Marc Anthony sampled Oliver Twist in the title track of his 2024 album Muevense but failed to seek permission or clear the rights before its release.
“Marc Anthony sampling my song was one of my greatest highlights last year,” D’banj said. “He released an album and the title and track one was a sample of Oliver Twist. It sounded like a Latin version. I was initially happy because of who he is, but my legal team had to step in.”
While the Nigerian superstar expressed admiration for Marc Anthony’s artistry, he stressed that due process must be followed in the music industry, especially when commercial gains are involved.
“He didn’t reach out to me before sampling it. 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 about it is that it is already released. My legal people are handling it and I know they are going high.”
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D’banj’s Oliver Twist remains one of the biggest Afrobeats hits of the last decade, playing a significant role in globalising the genre. The situation now raises major questions about copyright compliance across international music markets.
