People calling in to local radio station Fresh FM have accused popular trio PDK of copying two songs on their latest album.
The songs on the album ‘Kekaku’ are ‘Shoka Meisho’, which has been compared to the song ‘Shekini’ by world renowned duo P-Square, while ‘Onda Dengwa’ has been compared to a song by an unknown Zimbabwean artist who sings in Shona.
Group member Patrick attributes these allegations to a general lack of music knowledge by many Namibians.
On the song ‘Onda Dengwa’, the Shona lyrics of the Zimbabwean song, tell exactly the same story as the one PDK sing about in Oshiwambo. That of a man being beaten.
Despite this coincidence, Patrick maintains that they did not copy the song. He is however aware of the similar lyrics.
“I also speak Shona, I know the other lyrics say the man was beaten because he gave someone’s lady a compliment and ours is about a man who is found in another man’s house. Same topic different execution.”
John Walenga of Omalaeti also vehemently refuted any claims of copying saying that he sees no similarities in the two tracks to those they are allegedly copied from.
“I listened to the songs and what I can tell you is that I do not hear the similarities you are talking about,” Walenga said. He explained that they try to incorporate traditional sounds and the pounding of mahungu sound element is clearly audible in the beat, therefore it can never sound like a Nigerian song.
Regarding the song ‘Onda Dengwa’ having exactly the same storyline and exactly the same beat as a Zimbabwean Shona song, Walenga said that the similarities are a mere coincidence.
“I was in the studio for most of the recordings and with that song, I was in the studio when it was produced,” Walenga said.
Although Walenga saw no similarities, Patrick said the songs may sound the same, but the execution was different.
“It is like a lot of reggae songs, the beat sounds the same but the execution is different,” Patrick said.
