Samidoh’s popular Kikuyu song “Wendo wa Ihera,” also referred to as Toxic Love, has been reinstated on YouTube, much to his fans’ joy. The artist shared the exciting update on February 10, encouraging his supporters to keep streaming the song. He celebrated its return with a screenshot of the song’s cover art and shared an uplifting message in Kikuyu: “Múndú wa kïúnuhu Ndagiragia wa Kío agïe,” which can be interpreted as, “No amount of setbacks can prevent my star from shining.”
The widely celebrated track was taken down from YouTube unexpectedly just a week prior, at the peak of its popularity, having racked up over 4.7 million views. The removal stemmed from a copyright dispute initiated by gospel artists SK Ruri and Morey Wakibiru. They claimed that the melody of “Wendo wa Ihera” was too similar to Ruri’s 2020 gospel track Thutha wa Maundu. According to Ruri, the similarities were blatant throughout all four verses and interludes, igniting a significant legal battle over intellectual property rights.
Ruri, who has gained recognition in the gospel music industry after moving away from secular music, reached out to Samidoh with his concerns. In a Christmas Eve message, Ruri congratulated Samidoh on his achievements but also highlighted the notable resemblance between the two songs. He stressed the importance of giving proper credit and seeking consent when artists draw inspiration from each other.
Samidoh, however, did not respond positively to the complaint. He reportedly dismissed the allegations, labeling them as “malicious and petty,” and accused Ruri of seeking publicity. In retaliation to Samidoh’s dismissal, Ruri escalated the issue by filing a formal complaint with the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) and issuing a copyright strike through YouTube.
Following the complaint, YouTube commenced a three-week evaluation period to review the copyright claims. After a detailed investigation, the platform issued a seven-day warning before removing “Wendo wa Ihera” for copyright infringement, disappointing many fans who had already embraced the track.
Ultimately, after the review, the song was restored, bringing relief to Samidoh’s dedicated listeners.
