Bamboo speaks after winning Sh4.5 million in court battle

 Bamboo and the telecommunications giant had been battling it out in court for nine years [Courtesy, Instagram]

Kenyan rapper Bamboo has spoken for the first time after a court awarded him Sh 4.5 million in damages for the unauthorized use of his songs as Safaricom Skiza callback tunes.

Taking to his Instagram account, the rapper turned businessman shared a photo of the report by a national publication, accompanying it with a heartfelt caption in which he testified about God’s hand in the matter.

“One of the principles of financial poverty is sin. Sin is the legal right for devils to steal the treasures that God has placed inside of you. That is why the temptation to sin is so strong, especially sexual sin. Can you see why Satan advertises sin all over the world? To rob you blind,” Bamboo wrote.

He added: That’s why Jesus died for you. To pay for your sin, and give you back your inheritance. Today, Africa is being robbed of their inheritance by the west. But that kind of robbery cannot take place when God fights for you. By the power of God’s word and righteousness, you can take back everything the devil stole from you. Hallelujah!”

Bamboo and the telecommunications giant had been battling it out in court for nine years.

The tracks at the center of the suit were Mama Africa, Yes Indeed, and Move On.

Mama Africa was a one-time hit which featured Senegalese-American star Akon, and was released in 2005. Yes Indeed was released that same year, while Move On was a 2012 track featuring hip-hop group Camp Mulla.

Bamboo first moved to court in December 2015, filing a civil case against Safaricom and two premium rate service providers.

He accused the involved parties of using his intellectual property without his consent to generate revenue without paying him his dues.

Ruling in Bamboos favour, Justice Asenath Nyaboke stated: “I find that the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants did not avail the records of how much they earned from the plaintiff’s musical works. I assess general damages for infringement of right of Sh 1,500,000 per song in respect of musical works Mama Africa, Yes Indeed and Move On.”

Real name Simon Kimani, Bamboo has been a legendary figure in the local entertainment scene since his rise to fame in 2001.

One of his most popular tracks, Usilete Compe, was released in 2005 to massive success, and it has been described as “a timeless anthem from the golden age of Kenyan hip-hop.”

He transitioned from the secular industry to the gospel one in 2013, making the decision to deepen his faith and pursue a purpose- driven musical journey, as he explained in a Facebook post at the time.