Chop my Money’s copycat on the defensive

Imitation is an explicit endorsement of innovators’ ingenuity. Typical of this easy way of breaking through, Lilongwe-based rookie Miyazaki has released the single Chop My Kwacha, taking after P-Square’s Chop My Money.

 

Proponents of originality may frown at the path he has taken, but the 21-year-old (real name Mike Maseko) takes pride in his copycat antics.

Said Miyazaki in an interview: “I did not do the song just for fun. It is the engine of my music career. As an upcoming artist, this can help me to establish my name on the music market and that’s really what I am doing. Chop My Money is loved by many people in the country. I knew that redoing it would give my talent a chance to be appreciated by many people.”

However, the artist disclosed that he did not seek the Nigerian duo’s permission to redo their song. This brings to mind stories of Ndirande-based ‘Makhirikhiri’ Chipiliro Mwancheka and Mbudye hitmaker Joseph Tembo who copy from Botswana groups.

The contentious single is earmarked for Miyakazi’s debut album Lalala. Amid the controversy, he is admittedly experimenting with his own touch—for no artist can flourish by imitation alone.

“I am Miyakazi and it is only Chop My Kwacha that carries a foreign touch. The rest mirror my identity,” he explained.

His album also includes the number Beautiful Girls. In 2007, US ace Sean Kingston released a number of the same title.