The government, through the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO), has issued a warning regarding the popular Firirida song.
In a statement issued on Thursday, February 25, the agency challenged Kenyans against hopping onto the viral challenge blindly.
It further asked corporations and institutions to ensure that they seek authority from the producers of the song before joining the challenge.
This comes days after the music recording label, Warner, which was responsible for the global Jerusalema Challenge, began demanding fees from those who took part in the viral challenge.
"Make sure you are not caught on the wrong side of the law with the current Firirida craze. Get authority from the author if you want to make a derivative work of it.
"Jerusalema craze now haunts many. Don't blindly fall for every craze. It may lead you into trouble with the law," warned KECOBO.
"The law stipulates that the owner of the copyright has the exclusive right to control the distribution, reproduction and any derivative works," added the agency.
The government of Germany on Monday, February 22, confirmed that it had received a letter from the recording label after several of its officers took part in the challenge.
The song Jerusalema was first released in 2019, and was recorded by Limpopo-born hitmaker Kgoagelo Moagi, popularly known as Master KG, together with singer Nomcebo Zikode.
The song first gained global popularity after it was featured as a soundtrack by Angolan dancers, and while Covid-19 pandemic ravaged the world, many people found a glitter of hope in the challenge.
A report by France 24, an international broadcaster, indicated that the recording label has written to various organisation across the globe demanding fees for those who used the song to upend their image.
In Kenya, several organisations, including MPs, took part in the challenge and Warner Media could demand fees from them as well.
The Kenyan law stipulates that the author or owner of the copyright has the exclusive right to control the distribution, reproduction and any derivative works.
