-
Burna Boy Faces Copyright Lawsuit from Haitian Music Icon Over Alleged Song Theft
Grammy-winning Nigerian superstar Burna Boy, whose real name is Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, has been hit with a copyright infringement lawsuit in New York by celebrated Haitian musician Fabrice Rouzier.
At the heart of the legal battle is Rouzier’s 2002 song Je Vais, which he claims was used without permission in Burna Boy’s recent collaboration 4 Kampe II.
Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, the suit alleges that both Burna Boy and French-Haitian artist Joe Dwet File (born Joe Gilles) lifted elements from Je Vais—including portions of its melody, lyrics, and visuals—for their track released on March 28, 2025.
Rouzier claims the issue began in late 2024 when Joe Dwet File released the original version of 4 Kampe, which he says already borrowed heavily from his composition. He reportedly issued a cease-and-desist order to Gilles, who allegedly admitted to using the material.
However, the situation escalated when a remix featuring Burna Boy was later dropped, allegedly still containing unauthorized elements like the line “Chérie, ou sou sa kampe” (“Darling, let’s do this in the standing position”).
The Haitian legend contends that both artists were fully aware of the unauthorized use and still moved forward with the release, reaping financial and reputational benefits at his expense.
He is demanding compensatory and punitive damages, reimbursement of legal costs, and an injunction to block further use of his work.
Rouzier is also asking the court to order the destruction of any existing copies of the song and its visuals that include the disputed material.