Veteran gospel musician Pastor Faustin Munishi has spoken out against the growing trend of artists creating covers and AI-generated remixes of his iconic song Malebo.
Munishi urged them to avoid copyright infringement and urged artists to produce original music instead.
Munishi's remarks come amid increased online circulation of Malebo covers and remixes, including a version by Hush BK and DJ Shiti that was reportedly removed from YouTube following a copyright complaint.
In a Facebook post, the veteran singer criticised musicians who use his work without permission while claiming they are not profiting from it.
"How can you make a video using someone's song without permission and then claim you are only looking for Malebo and not money from YouTube?" he posed.
Munishi urged young musicians to stop relying on songs created by others and focus on developing their own content.
"Young people, stop being lazy and create your own songs. Some of you are taking my songs and sending them to AI. I did not ask anyone to take my songs to AI," he said.
The legendary gospel singer and preacher, who hails from Moshi, Tanzania, and is now based in Kenya, began his music and ministry career in Arusha before relocating to Kenya in the 1980s. Over the years, he has built a large following across East Africa by blending theology with social commentary in songs such as Malebo.
Following Munishi's complaints, some content creators, including Hush BK, publicly apologised and removed their covers from YouTube. The preacher said he had forgiven those who reached out to him but stressed the importance of respecting copyright laws and being transparent about creative processes.
Munishi's criticism has reignited a long-running debate within Kenya's music industry over artistic ownership, copyright protection and the reuse of classic songs.
In the era of TikTok trends, viral remixes and digital nostalgia, older hits are increasingly finding new audiences through younger performers who may not have experienced the originals during their peak popularity. Many of these songs are being repackaged with modern beats, shortened hooks and dance-friendly edits tailored for social media platforms.
As classic tracks gain a second life online, questions continue to emerge over whether such adaptations help preserve musical heritage or unfairly profit from the work of original creators without their consent.