Nigerian music star Davido has been given 21 days to respond to a lawsuit filed in the United States accusing him of intellectual property theft another sign of rising legal scrutiny as Afrobeats continues to command global attention.
The lawsuit, filed on April 4 at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, was brought by four Nigerian artists who claim Davido lifted their original track Work and repurposed it into his own release, Strawberry on Ice, without permission.
Also named in the suit are Sierra Leonean singer Emmerson who featured on the track and Wynn Records, the label behind its distribution and publishing.
According to legal documents, the plaintiffs shared their demo with Davido in January 2022 with hopes of a possible collaboration. But rather than partnering with them, they allege the music star reworked the song with Emmerson and released it without credit or compensation.
In a development that could complicate Davido’s defense, the group claims he acknowledged the issue and agreed to a $45,000 settlement along with a royalty-sharing deal on March 14, 2025. Despite a mutual deadline of March 24 to fulfill the agreement, they allege Davido failed to pay prompting them to take legal action.
The group is now demanding $150,000 in damages, partial copyright ownership of Strawberry on Ice, and a court order to stop any further use or distribution of the song.
This case highlights a growing trend: as Afrobeats reaches new heights on international platforms, artists are increasingly finding themselves navigating stricter legal standards especially in markets like the United States where copyright laws are tightly enforced.
As of the time of this report, Davido, Emmerson, and Wynn Records have yet to make any public statements regarding the lawsuit.
