Haitian music legend Fabrice Rouzier has filed a lawsuit against Nigerian superstar Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, in a New York court over allegations of copyright infringement.
According to legal documents obtained by Peoples Gazette, Rouzier accused Burna Boy of unlawfully using elements from his 2002 song Je Vais in the recently released hit 4 Kampe II—a collaboration between Burna Boy and French-Haitian singer Joe Dwet File (real name Joe Gilles).
The case reportedly originated in late 2024 when Gilles released the original version of 4 Kampe, which Rouzier claims heavily borrowed from Je Vais without permission. After Rouzier issued a cease and desist letter, Gilles allegedly admitted to the infringement but continued to capitalize on the song’s success.
Despite the warning, Gilles went ahead to release 4 Kampe II featuring Burna Boy on March 28, 2025, which Rouzier claims again lifted both the story and musical composition from Je Vais, including lyrical similarities like “Chérie, ou sou sa kampe” (translated as “Darling, let’s do this in the standing position”).
The court filings allege that Burna Boy, fully aware of the previous infringement claims, still participated in the remix, contributing to Rouzier’s claims of lost profits, missed opportunities, and damage to his reputation.
Faced with what he described as a blatant disregard for his rights, Rouzier filed the lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. He is seeking compensatory and exemplary damages, as well as reimbursement for legal fees.
Additionally, Rouzier is asking the court to issue an injunction preventing Gilles, Burna Boy, and their associates from using his work, image, or likeness in any connection to 4 Kampe and 4 Kampe II. He is also requesting the destruction of all infringing copies of the videos.
The lawsuit against Burna Boy comes just two weeks after his rival, Davido, was also sued in the United States by four Nigerian artists who accused him of stealing their song Work.
