What began as a unifying anthem during the uncertainty of 2020 has spiraled into one of South Africa’s most high-profile music disputes. Jerusalema—the gospel-influenced house hit whose infectious rhythm and Zulu lyrics inspired a worldwide dance challenge—brought chart-topping success and hundreds of millions of YouTube views.
But behind its message of hope, singer and co-writer Nomcebo Zikode says she has yet to see a cent in royalties, setting off a years-long legal battle with Open Mic Productions that continues to divide opinion in the music industry.
The song’s official music video alone has drawn more than half a billion views on YouTube, and it topped charts in countries including Belgium, Romania, South Africa, and Switzerland, achieving triple platinum status in Italy and double platinum in Spain.
Yet, this melody of global unity has been marred by a bitter royalties dispute. Zikode, the gifted vocalist and co-writer, publicly asserted in July 2021 that she had “not been paid a cent by the label for Jerusalema despite the song’s global success.” She expressed her dismay, stating, “My voice and lyrics have transcended globally, but I still await what is due to me,” and vowed to pursue legal justice against Open Mic Productions, the record label.
Open Mic Productions acknowledged that Zikode had not been paid, attributing it to a contractual disagreement. They explained that Master KG, the main artist, and Zikode, the featured artist, had initially "agreed on sharing 50/50 of Master KG’s earnings." However, a proposed agreement reflecting this split was reviewed by Zikode's legal team, who "proposed for a higher percentage." According to Open Mic, "neither artist has been paid because Zikode has yet to sign the featured artist agreement."
The dispute has led to ongoing court battles. On July 24, 2025, Nomcebo Zikode's application for leave to appeal was dismissed by the Pretoria High Court. Judge Graham Moshoana ruled her appeal had "no reasonable prospects of success" and ordered her to cover legal costs. While the underlying cause of the dispute involved the ownership of "Jerusalema," the court's recent ruling pertained to a separate song, "Bayethe," and highlighted an incorrect legal procedure followed by Zikode.
Zikode's legal team faulted the ruling as "fundamentally flawed and deeply troubling," arguing that the case was more than a contract issue, representing "the rights of an artist to be acknowledged, compensated, and respected for their work".
Speaking after the judgement in the Pretoria court, Artiste Manager, Sibo Mhlungu, said the dispute should be a landmark case that will be a guide for the music industry in South Africa and the continent on equitable treatment of artistes. "It should set a precedent of how people can resolve these kinds of disputes without having to fork out millions and spend years on trial proceedings such as this one."
Lionel Jamela of Open Mic Productions, however, welcomed the court's decision, asserting they had warned Zikode against pursuing the case due to its lack of merit.
"Our door remains open; she just needs to calm down so we can find a solution," he said.
Despite these legal issues, the grammy award winner Zikode continues to share her talent globally, embarking on a world tour and releasing new music.
