Just two weeks after fellow Nigerian superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, was hit with a copyright infringement law suit in the United States in which four Nigerian artists accused him of illegally appropriating their song ‘Work’, another African giant, Burna Boy has also been slammed with lawsuit for alleged song theft.
Haitian music icon Fabrice Rouzier has filed a lawsuit against Burna Boy over allegations of copyright infringement related to Rouzier’s 2002 hit song Je Vais.
The legal action, lodged in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, also names French-Haitian singer Joe Gilles (popularly known as Joe Dwet File) as a co-defendant.
According to court documents, Rouzier claims that Burna Boy and Gilles unlawfully incorporated substantial elements of Je Vais into their collaborative single 4 Kampe II, released on March 28, 2025.
The plaintiff alleges the song infringes on his original story, music composition, sound recording, and visual materials without his authorisation.
The legal dispute reportedly began in the fall of 2024, when Gilles released the original version of 4 Kampe, which Rouzier asserts was based on Je Vais. Following the song’s release, Rouzier sent a cease-and-desist letter to Gilles, who, according to the suit, later admitted to using Rouzier’s material without permission.
Despite the warning, Gilles went ahead to collaborate with Burna Boy on 4 Kampe II. The plaintiff argues that the remix further intensified the infringement, featuring lyrics and stylistic elements allegedly lifted from Je Vais, including the French phrase “Cherie, ou sou sa kampe” (“Darling, let’s do this in the standing position”), which Rouzier says mirrors the original song’s lyrics and theme.
Rouzier maintains that Burna Boy was fully aware of Gilles’ previous admission but proceeded with the collaboration regardless, resulting in continued harm to Rouzier’s brand, profits, and professional opportunities.
As part of his legal demands, Rouzier is seeking compensatory and exemplary damages, reimbursement for legal fees, and a court order prohibiting further use of his image, persona, and creative works in connection with 4 Kampe and 4 Kampe II.
He is also requesting the court mandate the destruction of all copies of the offending materials.
