D’banj Reacts as Marc Anthony Allegedly Samples ‘Oliver Twist’ Without Permission

Nigerian Afrobeats icon D’banj has announced legal action against American music star Marc Anthony for allegedly sampling his 2012 hit single Oliver Twist without proper clearance.

In a recent interview on Adesope Live, D’banj disclosed that his legal team has already reached out to Marc Anthony regarding the unauthorised use of the track, which appears as the lead single and title song on Anthony’s 2024 album Muevense.

Reflecting on the situation, D’banj said he was initially excited that an international legend appreciated his music, but emphasized that copyright laws must still be respected.

“Marc Anthony sampling my song was a major highlight for me last year. The track sounded like a Latin rendition of Oliver Twist, and I was thrilled at first,” he explained.

However, D’banj pointed out that the song was released officially without his approval. “He didn’t reach out to me. The song wasn’t cleared, and yet it was used as the album’s lead single and title. Thankfully, we’re in the digital age, so these things can’t go unnoticed.”

He added that although his legal team is handling the matter, he still holds admiration for the Latin music star. “I’m confident my lawyers will do what’s necessary. Deep down, I still admire Marc Anthony. But we have to get it cleared.”

The case highlights ongoing concerns around copyright infringement in the global music industry, particularly as Afrobeats continues to gain international recognition.