Nigerian singer Okafor Uchenna Victor, widely known as Mr Real, has spoken out about what he described as the alarming rate of intellectual property theft plaguing the country’s music scene.
The Legbegbe crooner argued that Afrobeats has lost much of its originality, claiming that a large number of songs and creative ideas circulating within the genre are copied or stolen.
He expressed concern that many upcoming artists are the most affected by this practice but often get no justice, as they lack the fan base or public attention to call out the wrongdoing.
Speaking during an interview with Hip TV, Mr Real accused even veteran musicians of being guilty of the same act they often criticize others for.
“Blackface dey always complain say dem steal him song. Afrobeats no get original songs, even Rema fit steal Omah Lay song. You see idea wey bad if you no sharp, omo boys go run am. No time,” he said in Pidgin.
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According to the singer, song theft occurs more frequently between emerging artists and established ones, but because upcoming musicians have limited platforms, their voices are easily ignored.
“Stealing of songs happens more between upcoming artists and top artistes but the upcoming no get fans to speak for them. There’s no original song in Afrobeats. Even the one shouting ‘they stole my song’ don still copy person own,” he added.
Mr Real’s statement adds to the ongoing conversation about creativity and intellectual property rights in the Nigerian music industry. In recent years, several artists have been accused of recycling melodies, lyrics, or entire compositions without proper credit or permission.
The singer’s remarks reflect a broader concern about fairness and artistic integrity in Afrobeats — a genre that has gained global acclaim but continues to face internal challenges regarding ownership and originality.
As the debate continues, Mr Real’s comments highlight the need for better structures to protect young talents and uphold creativity in Nigeria’s ever-growing music landscape.
