Kelvin Momo and Kabza De Small Clash Over Amapiano Royalties

Amapiano artists Kelvin Momo and Kabza De Small are currently engaged in a legal dispute at the Johannesburg High Court regarding a royalties conflict totaling R1 million. The dispute centers on a collaboration released six years ago under the Piano Hub banner, a project once regarded as a defining element of the Private School Amapiano movement.

The legal action was initiated by Kelvin Momo, born Thato Ledwaba, who alleges that Kabza De Small, born Kabelo Motha, and his company Piano Hub breached a recording agreement. According to court documents, the agreement was established in April 2020 after Motha approached Ledwaba and vocalist Babalwa M, born Babalwa Mavuso, to be mentored under the Piano Hub label.

Allegations of Contractual Breaches

Ledwaba claims that Piano Hub failed to honor key obligations outlined in the recording agreement. These failures reportedly include a lack of artist development, insufficient promotion, and a failure to expand the market reach of both Ledwaba and Mavuso.

At the center of the financial dispute are unpaid royalties. Ledwaba asserts that he is owed a significant sum based on agreements that royalties should have been paid out every six months. While Ledwaba acknowledges receiving approximately R86,575 in 2021, he maintains that this amount represents only a fraction of his actual entitlement, leading to the current demand for R1 million in damages.

The Role of Babalwa M

The legal battle has expanded to include vocalist Babalwa M, who has stepped forward to claim her share of the earnings for her vocal contributions to the project. This addition has created a secondary point of contention in the court proceedings.

Kabelo Motha has strongly disputed Mavuso’s involvement in the case. In court papers seen by the Sunday Times, Motha filed a special plea arguing that Mavuso was never part of the formal contract and therefore lacks the legal standing to pursue a claim against Piano Hub.

Motha’s defense suggests that the vocalist’s contributions may have been session-based rather than as a featured artist with contractual rights, highlighting a common point of friction in the music industry regarding the formalization of contributor agreements.

Industry Implications

The confrontation between two of the most prominent figures in the Amapiano scene brings attention to systemic issues within the genre’s digital streaming era. The case underscores ongoing challenges regarding transparency in revenue sharing, the distribution of royalties among multiple collaborators, and the necessity of clear, written agreements for session musicians and featured artists.

The dispute has been unfolding in the Johannesburg High Court for nearly two years. While Kabza De Small denies that any royalties are outstanding, the case remains a high-stakes legal battle that reflects the complexities of artist-label relationships within the South African music industry.