By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
United States-based musician — Zivanai Masango — has clapped back at Michael Lannas for accusing him of copyright theft after he performed a cover of his song Hapana Mazwi.
Masango who is a renowned producer said there was no copyright infringement since Lannas gave him the go-ahead to do the cover version of the song.
“I communicated my intent to Mr Lannas to which he said he had no problem with what I was doing. I never deviated from my intent as I had conveyed to him . . . never solicited any radio station for airplay or made copies or sold the song, because again . . . it was only meant to be posted on my socials without monetization. I stayed true to the use Mr Lannas said he was ok with,” Masango said.
Lannas had ranted on his Facebook page called out Masango asking where he got the permission to record the cover version.
“Zivanai Masango ZINAVAI MASANGO: Theft Of Intellectual property Infringement of copyright.
“I know you are currently number 2 on classic 263 with “Hapana Mazwi”. Who gave you permission to use my song??? This has happened far too many times with my Music. I’m going to make an example out of you,” he wrote.
A fans responded asking both Lannas and Masango to talk through the issue.
“I know Zivanai Masango mukoma (brother) Mike why don’t u chart with him man to man u are both respected artists. I know u will sort it out in a good way so that young artists will learn from you our elders. Respect.,” he wrote.
Asked if he knew that his cover version was doing well on radio, Masango denied taking the song to radio stations.
“That was a surprise to me. I didn’t even know it was playing on radio because I never approached any radio stations to play any of the covers,” he said.
In an interview, Masango he started doing cover songs of several artistes following requests from people across the world interested in learning more about classic Zimbabwean popular music.
“Fans and students of Zimbabwean music wanted to know how it’s put together and I thought what better way to demonstrate this from my perspective than to film myself putting the parts together. Purely as a way to share my perspective on the beauty of the music of our legends.
“With all the covers I have done, my goal was to curate a collection of yesteryear Zimbabwean music that I felt was of consequence to the history of popular Zimbabwean music and helped shape not only the industry, but the lives and memories of Zimbabweans in the 80s and 90s.
“My intention was never to profit from the covers I did. My YouTube channel does not monetize for this reason. I have NEVER released any of the covers I did commercially.
“I also have NEVER solicited airplay for ANY of these covers from any radio station whatsoever . . . Neither have I sold or produced any copies.
“I always accompanied the posting of the music ONLY on my social platforms (never commercially) with a write up about what the music means, what the lyrics mean and what kind of impact the music had as I understood it. All this as a way to make it as educative as possible as well as to give it ‘ethnomusicology’ value . . . which was my goal. I always gave FULL acknowledgment of whoever I understood to be the original author because my intent was never to infringe on any rights.”
Masango said he had respect for Mr Lannas and for the music he made… and that’s part of the reason he chose to cover his song in the first place.
“To highlight it as one of the songs that shape me and my approach to music in general,” he said.
Masango has done covers for Leonard Dembo, Oliver Mtukudzi, Dr Thomas Mapfumo and Michael Lannas among others which are on his official Facebook page.
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