Alabaster Box Sues Medikal Over Copyright Infringement
Ghanaian gospel group Alabaster Box has filed a lawsuit against rapper Medikal, seeking GHS 15 million in damages for alleged copyright infringement.
According to a writ filed at the High Court of Justice, Alabaster Box claims Medikal’s recent release, Welcome to Africa, unlawfully samples their copyrighted song Akwaaba. The group argues that the first ten seconds of Medikal’s track constitute a derivative work based on their original composition.
Alabaster Box, known for their iconic song Akwaaba, has been active for over 30 years and has gained international acclaim, including a performance at Westminster Abbey for the late Queen Elizabeth II. They emphasize that they hold exclusive copyright to Akwaaba in both Ghana and the United Kingdom and have made substantial investments in promoting their work.
The lawsuit also criticizes the content of Medikal’s song, claiming it features “expressive profanity, vulgarity, and unprintable words.” According to Alabaster Box, this language has negatively impacted their brand by associating their work with offensive material.
The group is demanding GHS 10 million in compensation for copyright infringement, along with GHS 5 million in exemplary damages. These additional damages are sought for what they describe as “intentional infringement,” damage to their brand reputation, and the diminishing value of their copyright.
Alabaster Box is further requesting that the court compel Medikal to account for all revenue generated from the song and remove it from all digital streaming platforms. While Medikal reportedly removed the disputed section from YouTube, the original version of the track remains accessible on platforms such as Audiomack, Boomplay, Spotify, and Apple Music. The group considers Medikal’s partial removal of the song without any prior communication as disrespectful and a tacit admission of wrongdoing.
