Rapper Nyashinski’s Case With Tecno Heats Up

Nyashinski’s latest Instagram story has raised eyebrows after the rapper and vocalist directed a strongly worded message towards Tecno Kenya as the conflict between the artist and the tech giant continues to escalate.

“Your time is up. You have caused me enough distress. I want to make sure I’m the last person you will EVER mess with. Itakuwa funzo,” reads the post.

This statement comes amidst ongoing legal battles involving Nyashinski and Tecno Kenya.

The rapper whose legal name is Inyatta Nyamari Ongegu is currently embroiled in a copyright infringement case filed by Nigerian producer Sam Eliapenda Jedidah, popularly known as Sam Eli.

The case revolves around an endorsement deal Nyashinski signed with Tecno Kenya Limited in May 2023 which was worth millions of shillings.

Sam Eli accuses Nyashinski of using a song he produced, “Wach Wach,” to promote Tecno’s Camon 20 device without proper compensation.

The legal proceedings have seen Nyashinski’s defense team request additional time to furnish the court with contract documents related to the Tecno endorsement deal.

Sam Eli argued that as the producer of the song, he is entitled to 50 percent of the fortune made from the endorsement deal but his effort to contact the rapper for his fair share has remained futile.

The Nigerian says he immediately contacted Nyashinski inquiring how his composition was published without his knowledge.

But the rapper argued that he did not know that he needed to inform him of the use of the song by Tecno because as far as he was concerned, he owns 100 percent of the master rights.

In his defense statement, Nyashinski argued that the suit against him was in bad taste as it was instituted against non-parties urging the court to dismiss it with costs.

“In response to Para 9 and 10 of the Amended Plaint, the 1st Defendant avers that he is the owner of 100 percent master rights and 50 percent publishing rights to the song Wach Wach is owned by GETA International and not the 1st Defendant. The plaintiff owns 50% publishing rights to the song Wach Wach. GETA International Company Limited is not a party to this suit,” Nyashinski stated in his defence.

The musician stated that his contract with Tecno wasn’t a publishing deal as the Nigerian music producer claimed but rather one which included image rights, appearance, interviews, photo/video shoots, travel time and social media associations.

Nyashinski also argued that GETA International signed a fair use agreement with the 2nd defendant for the use of the song Wach Wach which he had every right to as a 100 percent master rights owner and 50 percent publishing right owner, this is in addition to the fact that Nyashinski appears on the advert(s).

“The 1st Defendant avers that the plaintiff is however misguided in both law and fact about what entitlements he possesses on account of 50 percent share of publishing rights to a song,” his defence argued.