- A man has taken to social media to demand payment from the famous singer, Rema for using his catchphrase, ‘Ozeba’.
- He claimed that he has been using the phrase for about 4 years on his page and Rema just lifted it, used it to make a hit track without acknowledging him.
A heated online drama has erupted after a Nigerian-American man, Innocent Tino alleged that Rema, a prominent Nigerian musician, used the term “ozeba” in one of his songs without proper acknowledgement or compensation.
Tino claimed that he popularized the term on social media platforms approximately four years ago, transforming it into a catchphrase among his online community.
He wrote:
“Rema need to pay me. I was the one who started using ‘Ozeba’ as gist on social media.. though a Benin word for ‘trouble’… but I made it popular on my page like 4 years ago till date and now Rema used am blow for song …my old followers will attest to it. …I will say ‘this na better Ozeba.”
See the post below:
Tino’s assertion has sparked a range of comments with majority of netizens dismissing it as a publicity stunt.
One Akpomeze Wayne Sammy wrote: “Dey play.. na normal slang for benin be that.. you don smoke again abi.”
Godswill Chinonso said: “All na hit” “Go and seat down joor, u and mouth na 5&6. Akpancholo.”
Sam Art said: “Where’s Rema from sir. “Answer this and give yourself a knock.”
Chibozd Christian said: “Na from this $3m u deh find cut? “
Prisma James said: “Why u no use am blow before, ajeh ?”
Bright Clever said: “Go Ring Road,Ted,Uselu, Ekenwa and even Opper you go hear Ozeba more than ten times a day na you dey here dey find who wants to pay for a Benin words. Nwe su nu epa Innocent Tino.”
Proxy Liv said: “Commot body for high tension hoooo Steady Ozeba dey sup for Ekenwan road. Rema gats blow with am nw.”
Chime Chinenye Joyce said: “Every celebrity needs to pay you a, not only rema.Even speed Darlington and portable needs to pay you.”