Gospel Group Alabaster Box Sues Medikal Over Unauthorized Use of Their Song

Ghanaian music group, Alabaster Box, has officially taken legal action against rapper Medikal for allegedly recreating a part of their song, “Akwaaba,” without permission. The group of four is demanding a sum of GH¢15 million in damages.

This comes after Alabaster Box, legally represented by Sustineri attorneys, issued a cease-and-desist letter to Medikal demanding that they take down the song, Welcome to Africa which allegedly interpolates the vocals and theme of Alabaster Box’s Akwaaba.

Alabaster Box in the letter warned that they would pursue legal action should their demands not be met.

Following that development, Medikal deleted the first 10 seconds of his song, Welcome to Africa on YouTube but kept them available on other streaming platforms.

This did not quite meet the satisfaction of Alabaster Box as their demands were clear – that Medikal take down the song on all streaming platforms and make account of all revenue generated to Alabaster Box.

And as stated in the cease-and-desist, Alabaster Box has taken the issue to the High Court in Accra seeking 15 GH¢million in damages, GH¢10 million in general damages and GH¢5 million “for the defendant’s intentional infringement of the plaintiff’s copyright, brand association with vulgarity, and for diminishing the good mileage of the copy fees.”

Medikal is yet to speak publicly on the matter, but this development may start a serious and broader conversation on copyright laws and their enforcement.