Zoë Modiga and BandaBanda Clash Over ‘Thula’ Remix Released by Culoe De Song
- South African singer Zoë Modiga publicly stated she had no knowledge of the Thula remix and never authorised its release
- BandaBanda, who worked with Modiga for nearly nine years, claimed she was sent the music before it dropped and cited broader unresolved professional issues
- Modiga confirmed her lawyers are now handling the dispute as the row moves into formal legal territory
PAY ATTENTION: Mark Briefly News as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!
Source: Instagram
A public dispute has broken out between South African singer Zoë Modiga and producer-artist BandaBanda over the release of a remix of their collaborative song Thula. The row, which has since moved into legal territory, centres on whether Modiga gave her approval for the new version to be released.
The track in question, Thula (Culoe De Song Remix), came out in early September 2026 and features Modiga's vocals. Speaking through her team at Yelloëwax in Johannesburg, she said she was blindsided by the release.
"I want to make it clear that I had no prior knowledge of, involvement in, or approval of the release in question," Modiga said. She added: "I was neither consulted about nor did I give my approval for the release."
Modiga confirmed she has instructed her lawyers to deal with the matter urgently and said she would not be engaging publicly on the specifics while that process is underway.
PAY ATTENTION: You can now search for all your favourite news and topics on Briefly News.
BandaBanda responds to Zoë Modiga
BandaBanda pushed back with a detailed account of what they say happened before the remix dropped. The producer, who has collaborated with Modiga for close to nine years and produced much of her catalogue, said the original Thula was released on 12 June 2025. A live version followed in 2026 as part of the Isikhathi project, which they say gave rise to the idea for a remix.
According to BandaBanda, Modiga received the music before the remix was put out. They also raised broader grievances, saying the creative falling-out was part of a pattern of unresolved professional matters that multiple meetings and correspondence had failed to resolve.
Despite the public nature of the disagreement, BandaBanda was clear that their statement was not an attempt to stir up a fan war.
"This statement is not an invitation for the public to choose sides. It is simply important for me to place my position, and the sequence of events as I experienced them, on record," they wrote.
Reflecting on their working relationship, BandaBanda said:
"For close to nine years, I poured an enormous amount of my creativity, time, energy and resources into a musical journey that I remain proud to have been part of."
What's next for Zoë Modiga and BandaBanda?
Acclaimed producer Culoe De Song handled the new version of Thula, describing the project as an opportunity to give the song "another life." The remix received radio airplay locally, with promotional material crediting both Culoe De Song and BandaBanda.
Reports have also surfaced pointing to metadata on the original track that reportedly lists BandaBanda as holding publishing rights and having approved the remix. However, whether those rights extend to releasing a remix without the featured artist's explicit sign-off remains a separate legal question.
BandaBanda closed its statement by expressing hope the matter could be resolved without further acrimony.
"I sincerely hope that, in time, the outstanding matters can be concluded respectfully and with the dignity they deserve."
Source: Instagram
Other articles on music disputes
The dispute between Zoë Modiga and BandaBanda is a staple among collaborators. Here are some articles as reported by Briefly News:
- Nomsa Mazwai took legal action against DJ Black Coffee, saying that she is owed royalties for their highly successful collaboration.
- In another report, Sun-El Musician's co-founder alleged they were owed millions in royalties.
- Afro-soul sensation Ami Faku reportedly dragged her former management company to court to finally break free from her contracts.
PAY ATTENTION: Stay informed and follow us on Google News!
Source: Briefly News
