Music manager, podcaster and record label owner Sfiso Ndlovu broke his silence amid the Hamba Juba payment disputes.
This comes after Sfiso faced backlash for allegedly not paying artists credited for the amapiano hit song by Lady Amar, Cici, Marumba Pitch and JL SA. Hamba Juba was released in 2023, and has amassed millions of streams and views.
The Piano Pulse podcaster took to the podcast to answer questions and shed light on the payment dispute surrounding the song. Speaking to his fellow podcasters, he said JL SA did not receive his share due to a contract breach.
“The reason why I did not pay JL at the time was because bengifuna ukumnyisa (I wanted to teach him a lesson) — because he breached my contract, and I know the law,” he said.
Sfiso also claimed that Cici has taken him to court over additional royalties. He said the song’s royalties are currently being withheld.
“The money was blocked before I could pay Sony. So JL must just go and say Sfiso wrote this song, one man. We need him to be a witness to release his money.
“If he does that and sends that email, Samro will release the money. Then immediately I’ll take that money and send it to Sony, then Sony will pay him,” said Sifiso.
@southafrica_best_clipper Sifiso Tells It All Who #southafricatiktok🇿🇦 #pianopulse #LIVEIncentiveProgram #LIVEwithlowfollowers #PaidPartnership ♬ original sound – MayorYaStraata1🐐👞🧢🫨🥹
JL SA’s video clip where he shared that he was not paid a single cent after producing Hamba Juba went viral on social media.
“I produced the song from scratch; this is my work, my own production, but I never got a cent for it. If you check now on Spotify, the song is sitting on 23 million streams on Spotify alone, and the music video on YouTube is at around 34 million. I love making music, but the sad part is that I don’t get paid for it,” he said.
Lady Amar shared a video clip on her TikTok page citing that she too has not been paid by Sfiso’s record label.
“I don’t know the Hamba Juba money — not even a cent. I have never received anything, just like JL. It’s just that he is someone who can speak for himself. Me, on the other hand, I don’t like talking. This is probably the first and last video of me speaking about this. But I have never received the money. It’s been two years and nothing,” she said.
Also see: Where is the money? Hamba Juba hitmakers speak out on royalty woes
