Song Clearance Sheet
3 sources citedSoul Makossa
Funk1970s115BPM
C majKey
More around 120 BPM → · More in C major → · More “Cleared After Dispute” →
Tempo/key via GetSongBPM →
The verdict
Cleared After Dispute
A twice-litigated dispute over unlicensed reuse of the same chant — Michael Jackson settled in 1986, then Dibango sued again in 2009 (Jackson and Rihanna) over whether that settlement covered downstream reuse. It does clear, but with real litigation history worth knowing.
Sampled The most-sampled African song in history times · reportedly open to sampling
Used by independents?
No — no independent use documented so far; only major-label artists.
Who you need to ask
The songwriter — Manu Dibango's estate
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The current administrator — Not confirmed — needs a Songview/Discogs lookup
Unknown · checked Jul 2026
Has it been sampled?
Yes — widely described as the most-sampled African song in history — but note the real litigation history below
Do they allow sampling?
It does clear, but with genuine litigation history — including a second dispute over whether an earlier settlement covered further downstream reuse (see Receipts)
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)Manu Dibango's estate (following his 2020 death)
The recording (current administrator)Not confirmed
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
A famous, admitted case of unlicensed use — settled once
Michael Jackson borrowed Dibango's distinctive vocal chant for the coda of 1982's "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'." Jackson acknowledged it; Dibango sued and they settled out of court in 1986 for one million French francs, with Dibango reportedly credited as a joint writer and waiving future rights to that specific Jackson recording — but not to his own original material.
Wikipedia (Wanna Be Startin' Somethin') · read it →
The same hook led to a second lawsuit
In 2007 Rihanna's "Don't Stop the Music" sampled the same chant via Jackson's recording; Jackson's camp approved it without separately consulting Dibango. In 2009 Dibango sued both Jackson and Rihanna, arguing his 1986 settlement covered only that one Jackson recording — not further reuse through a third party.
Wikipedia (Soul Makossa) · read it →
Dibango died during the early COVID-19 pandemic
Manu Dibango died in April 2020 in Paris from COVID-19 — one of the first prominent musicians to die from the disease.
CBS News (AP) · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
The most-sampled African song in history
Times sampled
—
Covers
1982
First flip
Big names who used itMichael Jackson · Rihanna
Who to Contact
MD
Manu Dibango's estate
The songwriter of record; note the twice-litigated history in the Receipts
What they'll chargeNobody's shared numbers yet
Don't Want the Hassle?
Sample something pre-cleared insteadCheck Tracklib →
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Page history · 2 updates
Jul 2026Page created — full research (New Discovery batch)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending a separate manual keyfinder pass