The widow of the late sungura legend Leonard Dembo, Mai Morgan, has issued a stern warning to Zimdancehall artist Jimmy Mudereri, popularly known as Silent Killer, for allegedly copying one of the late musician’s songs without permission.
In November last year, Zimdancehall artist Silent Killer released his rendition of Musha Rudziiko, a classic by Leonard Dembo. The song gained widespread attention, becoming a fan favorite and receiving wild cheers during his live performances.
A video that has gone viral online shows Mai Morgan addressing Zimbabwean musicians, cautioning them against using Leonard Dembo’s music without proper authorization.
“To those who say, ‘Leonard Dembo has passed away, so I can do whatever I want with his songs,’ stop that. You take his songs, distort them by adding inappropriate vocals, and ruin the original masterpiece. Please, we are asking you to stop.
“We do not want legal battles. We do not want noise or fights. If you feel inspired to recreate Leonard’s music, his children, Tendai and Morgan, are available. Talk to them and get permission before proceeding,” she said.
Mai Morgan expressed her displeasure with how some artists are mishandling and remixing Leonard Dembo’s work. She emphasized that anyone interested in recreating or remixing his music must seek proper consent.
