Chukwuebuka Amuzie, widely known as Brain Jotter, a prominent Nigerian comedian and scriptwriter, has addressed concerns about the potential exploitation of Mike Ejeagha’s 1983 hit, “Gwo Gwo Gwo Ngwo,” which has recently sparked varied reactions on social media.
According to Drivetvnews, Brain Jotter recently launched a dance challenge featuring Ejeagha’s song, a move that has delighted many. Despite the track being over forty years old and performed by the 93-year-old folk music icon, its resurgence through Brain Jotter’s challenge has drawn attention and raised questions about revenue distribution and copyright matters.
On Tuesday, Brain Jotter clarified that he is not profiting from the song’s newfound popularity. He addressed concerns by stating, “For those who think we ripped him off or we’re making money from this whole thing, I understand your concerns, and they are very valid. I appreciate the fact that you want him to get value for his hard work, which is very valid, and I want you to understand that you are doing something good.”
In a video of his visit to Ejeagha, Brain Jotter reiterated that he has not earned any money from the song. He elaborated on the monetization process on various platforms, noting that all revenue from content featuring the song goes directly to Ejeagha’s record label and production company. “You cannot even monetize another person’s song because these platforms have copyright violation tools,” he explained. “If I post that video on YouTube, YouTube flags it for copyright and directs the revenue to the actual owner, which is Mike Ejeagha. Similarly, on Facebook, the song is flagged as not belonging to me, and any revenue is given to the rightful owner.”
Brain Jotter also mentioned that the song has seen a significant increase in streams, further ensuring that all earnings are attributed to Ejeagha. Additionally, he spoke about his personal gesture of giving Ejeagha two million naira, stating, “The two million I gave him was from my pocket. My hard-earned money is just for humanity and not for profit. This whole thing is not for profit.”
He concluded by expressing his satisfaction with the joy the challenge has brought to Ejeagha. “We got the reward, which is the joy in his heart now. The joy in his heart now is my profit,” Brain Jotter said.
