Mokima Music, a prominent name in the music publishing industry and part of the Virgin Music Group network, has responded to accusations made by South African music sensation and BET Award winner Makhadzi, who claims the company has been collecting her royalties without her consent.
Makhadzi, whose real name is Ndivhudzannyi Ralivhona, made headlines this week after alleging that her former label, Open Mic Productions, had tied her to Mokima Music & Publishing without her knowledge or approval.
“While preparing for my album, I’m making sure that my things move nicely and everything is in order. After my fallout with Open Mic, I never signed a publishing deal with any company,”
Makhadzi wrote in a social media post that quickly went viral.
The artist further alleged that Open Mic created a company named Nazo in collaboration with Mokima Music, and that the two entities—along with Virgin Music Group—have been collecting her publishing royalties without her knowledge.
“I found out that my old management at Open Mic opened a company called Nazo in partnership with Mokima Production that works with a new company called Virgin Music Group. The two companies are busy collecting my publishing royalties without my knowledge. I don’t know at this point what you want from me. I am not bothering anyone, I am just doing my thing,”
she stated.
Mokima Music Denies Wrongdoing, Cites Legally Binding Agreement
In an official response, Mokima Music firmly denied the allegations and emphasized that their actions have been entirely lawful. The company stated that it entered into an Administration and Publishing Agreement with Nazo Digital, which had represented itself as Makhadzi’s authorized publisher.
“We have seen a signed publishing agreement between Nazo Digital and the composer, Makhadzi, which contains her signature,”
the statement read. Mokima Music further asserted that all royalties collected under this agreement were paid directly to Nazo Digital, in accordance with the legal terms set out in the contract.
The publishing house also expressed concern over what it called defamatory statements made by the artist, warning that such claims could potentially damage its reputation within the industry.
“These public claims are not only misleading but also defamatory. Mokima Music operates with integrity and transparency in all our publishing agreements,”
the company said.
In response to Makhadzi’s public outcry, Open Mic Productions co-founder Lionel Jamela dismissed her claims and refused to comment further on the matter.
“Again, we will not entertain this. She must focus on her own company,”
Jamela said, hinting at the strained relationship between the artist and her former label.
The conflict with Open Mic has been brewing for several months, with Makhadzi parting ways with the label amid allegations of mismanagement and contract disputes. The recent royalty controversy appears to be an extension of those unresolved issues.
Makhadzi’s management has voiced concern about the timing of the controversy, which coincides with the upcoming release of her new album. Her manager, Maphuti Mathatho, confirmed that they are investigating the situation and are taking legal advice.
“This is happening at a crucial time when Makhadzi’s album is about to be released. It’s obviously a negative force, and we are handling it carefully,”
Mathatho stated.
While the specifics of the dispute are still under scrutiny, the situation highlights a broader issue in the South African music industry—namely, transparency in royalty distribution and publishing rights. This case could have significant implications for how deals are negotiated, communicated, and enforced between artists, labels, and publishers.
Several music law professionals have weighed in, noting that if Makhadzi’s signature is indeed on a contract with Nazo Digital, the dispute may revolve more around representation and understanding of the agreement than unauthorized activity.
“It comes down to whether she knowingly entered the agreement or was misled about its nature. Either way, this is a cautionary tale about the importance of artists having proper legal counsel before signing any documentation,”
said Johannesburg-based entertainment lawyer Thabo Mahlangu.
For now, Mokima Music stands by its version of events and maintains that all actions taken were in good faith and under the assumption of proper authorization. Meanwhile, Makhadzi is focusing on her upcoming album release, while her team explores legal avenues.
The dispute serves as a reminder of the complexities within the music publishing world and how easily misunderstandings—or misrepresentations—can spiral into public legal battles.
As the situation unfolds, all eyes will be on how Mokima Music, Nazo Digital, and Open Mic Productions respond to the increasing pressure and whether Makhadzi’s claims lead to changes in the way artists manage their intellectual property.
Source –Fakaza
