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April 22 2023

What will happen now that AI can sing like your favourite Nigerian musician?

The Afrobeats genre has seen an explosion in popularity, with non-indigenous creatives attempting to create music in this style. The recent advancements in artificial intelligence, which allow people to clone the singing voices and styles of artistes, raise excitement and questions about what voice cloning means for Africa’s music industry and the rights of African creators. Recently, a TikTok user known as Ghost Writer produced a song called Heart on My Sleeve, using an AI model to replace the vocals with the voices of Drake and The Weeknd. The song quickly went viral, amassing 15 million views on TikTok, 275,000 views on YouTube, and 600,000 streams on Spotify. While fans were impressed by the quality of the music, the music label Universal Music Group removed the song from all platforms, citing that the voice cloning infringed on the artists’ intellectual property. But will this really stop AI? Barzini, a Nigerian musician, expressed concern about bad actors using this technology to profit off indigenous artists who have spent years honing their craft and navigating the intricacies of the genre. He notes that it may become difficult to differentiate what’s real and true from what’s not, drawing parallels to the days of “Alaba Piracy” when unofficial albums from artists were sold in the streets. He explained that before music streaming gained ground in Nigeria, Alaba DJs would string together a bunch of singles and maybe a few collaborations with other artists, design a cover artwork, and start selling a “brand-new album” on the streets” without the knowledge of said artiste. “However, unlike then, the world is connected on social media, and any African artiste can easily put out a disclaimer and call out the parties involved,” he concluded. That said, Barzini who has also recently promoted his music with a video of him copying the voice and mannerisms of a popular Nigerian state governor, Nyesom Wike, acknowledges the marketing opportunity that his music could gain if he cloned a popular artiste’s voice and featured it in his songs. Beyond marketing, he is also excited about the creative possibilities. Despite his reservations, Barzini acknowledges the potential of the technology to reshape the landscape of Afrobeats collaboration, as it can also enable African artists to collaborate with foreign musicians or even AI-generated versions of them. “Imagine if I did a song with Michael Jackson’s backing vocals!”. In the end, he thinks that the pros outweigh the cons Joey Akan, a Nigerian music journalist, is excited about the possibilities of artificial technology in music. On a call with TechCabal, he said, “I don’t see anything negative to be concerned about. At best, that viral video of Drake and Kanye only showed us what is now possible with artificial technology.” He said that AI can learn songwriting techniques, can learn singing techniques, and with that technology, one can create an artist without having to deal with “the shortcomings of humanity.”He believes that African countries should shift their focus towards using technology to scale their markets. As an example, he cited how Nigeria, despite the popularity of its talents, and vast potential, is not topping the streaming market. “Nigeria is the [most populous] African country but does rank in the top 20 streaming markets. Namibia has more streamers than Nigeria,” he said. On the flip side, Edwin Madu, musician and owner of record label St. Claire Records, expressed a sense of resignation towards the inevitability of generative technology. “I didn’t actively seek out ChatGPT, it found me. I use Notion [a productivity work tool], and one day ChatGPT was integrated. Now I use it almost every day. The same goes for music AI.” However, he is deeply concerned about the potential lack of originality in the work produced with AI. “It’s not like sampling. This technology replicates people’s distinct voices and styles. As an artist, I personally believe that there should be a cost associated with it. There is a need for proper laws and regulations to ensure artists can earn fair compensation,” he concluded. Echoing Dwin’s concerns, Ifeyinwa Anyadiegwu, head of legal at Chocolate City, another music label, stated that voice impersonation in music could potentially lead to the infringement of intellectual property rights or result in a complex and lengthy process for licensing and clearance. “Master owners, publishers, artists, and other rights holders will all want a share of the pie, leading to a complicated legal landscape,” she told TechCabal. On the other hand, she agrees that different versions of a song can bring attention to the original creators. It can also potentially increase revenue for African artistes when properly licensed and used. “Either way, the legal complexities of AI-generated music need to be further investigated before the world gives a co-sign so that no one is shortchanged. Joey Akan, however, sees these legal challenges as opportunities for the space to evolve and create new laws that can favour artists and allow them to benefit more holistically from their work, especially legacy musicians, who are no longer alive. “If we can move past the creepiness of working with dead people, there is much to gain business-wise. I want to see a Portable and Fela collaboration. With AI and the right laws in place, this can be a possibility.” However, when TechCabal contacted Portable, he seemed to have not seen the viral videos impersonating popular singers and remained unaware of the possibility. When he was asked how he feels about the possibility of someone else singing like him using AI voice clones, he answered, “It is not possible, there is nobody that can sing like me.” The rise of Afrobeats and the advancements in AI technology are shaping the landscape of music creation in unprecedented ways. While there are valid concerns about appropriation and gatekeeping, there are also opportunities for greater collaboration and inclusivity.

April 22 2023

How to easily transfer WhatsApp data from Android to iPhone 2023

The migration from Android to iPhone on the African clime is on the rise, and there’s no decline in sight. Due to this migration, the need for data transfer for apps like WhatsApp becomes vital. So, if you’re switching from an Android phone to an iPhone, or vice versa, it’s essential to know how to transfer your WhatsApp data to your new device. In this article, we’ll show you how to transfer WhatsApp data from Android to iPhone. What you need to transfer WhatsApp data from Android to iPhone As you start the transfer process of your WhatsApp data from your Android device to your iPhone, please ensure the following: Your Android OS is Lollipop, SDK 21 or above, or Android 5 or above. Your iOS is iOS 15.5 or above. You have the “Move to iOS” app installed on your Android phone. The WhatsApp on your iPhone is the latest version. The WhatsApp on your Android device is the latest version. You maintain the same phone number on your new device. Your iPhone is either new or reset to factory settings to pair with the ‘Move to iOS’ app on your Android. Your iPhone and Android devices are connected to a power source. Both phones are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Alternatively, you can connect your Android device to your iPhone’s hotspot. How to transfer WhatsApp data from Android to iPhone The following steps will help you easily transfer your WhatsApp data from your Android phone once you have followed the steps listed in the previous section. Step 1 Before you can transfer your WhatsApp data from Android to iPhone, you need to back up your data on your Android phone. To do this, open WhatsApp on your Android phone and go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup. Here, you can choose to backup your chats manually or set up automatic backups. Step 2 Launch the “Move to iOS” app installed on your Android device and follow the prompts on-screen. Step 3 You’ll see a code displayed on your iPhone screen. Enter the code on your Android phone when you are prompted. Step 4 Click ‘Continue’ and follow the next prompts you’ll receive. Step 5 Select WhatsApp on the Transfer Data screen. Step 6 Hit START on your Android device, and wait for WhatsApp to prepare the data for transfer. Once the data is ready for transfer, you’ll be signed out from your Android phone’s WhatsApp. Step 7 Click ‘Next’ to go back to the “Move to iOS” app. Then tap ‘Continue’ to transfer your WhatsApp data from your Android phone to your iPhone. After this, just wait for the “Move to iOS” app to confirm the transfer is complete. Step 8 Launch WhatsApp on your iPhone and log in using the phone number you were using on your old Android device. Step 9 Click ‘Start’ after prompting, and allow the process to finish. Step 10 When you activate WhatsApp on your iPhone, you’ll find your chats and media waiting like nothing changed. NB: Please note that your WhatsApp call log won’t migrate during the data transfer process from Android to iPhone. Do you want to learn how to do the same transfer but from iPhone to Android? Read how to do that here with just a USB cord.