Rapper Medikal Faces Legal Action Over Alleged Copyright Infringement In ‘WELCOME TO AFRICA’

Ghanaian rapper Samuel Adu Frimpong, widely known as Medikal, has landed in legal trouble following allegations of copyright infringement. The award-winning artist has been served with a cease-and-desist notice over the alleged unauthorized use of a classic gospel hit by veteran acapella group The Alabaster Box in his latest single, “Welcome to Africa.”

The strongly worded legal letter, dated April 8, was issued by attorneys representing The Alabaster Box and delivered to Medikal both physically and via WhatsApp. The notice claims that Medikal’s track includes “significant sampling” from their 20-year-old hit “Akwaaba”, particularly within the first ten seconds of the song.

“Our clients have exclusively performed and monetized this intellectual property globally for decades,” the letter states. “This infringement appears intentional given your demonstrable familiarity with the original work.”

According to the legal team, “Welcome to Africa” has been actively promoted on digital platforms and Medikal’s verified YouTube channel, where it has already amassed over 72,000 views. The group alleges that the promotion and distribution of the song exploit their intellectual property for commercial benefit without consent or compensation.

The letter demands:

Immediate withdrawal of the song from all streaming and broadcasting platforms
A halt to any further performance or promotion of the track
Submission of all contracts and earnings related to the song

The notice warns that failure to comply could result in legal proceedings, including a court injunction and potential claims for damages.

The Alabaster Box reaffirmed their commitment to defending their creative rights and legacy within Ghana’s music scene, noting the importance of upholding the intellectual property of longstanding artists.

As of now, Medikal’s team has not issued a public response to the allegations.