It was meant to be a triumphant moment for Shewit Mezgebo. After a few years away from the music scene, the Ethiopian singer made a return with her new Tigrinya single, Weyley, released four weeks ago alongside an accompanying music video on YouTube. The song quickly caught on, attracting millions of views and generating considerable interest among fans eager to hear new music from the artist. So far, the video has amassed approximately 1.9 million views on Youtube.

But the excitement was soon overshadowed by criticism. Just a week after the song’s release, Danu Wedi Memhir, an Eritrean influencer known for his commentary on music, posted a pointed review. He highlighted what he described as poorly written lyrics and pointed to a line or two that he claimed were similar to material from a song by fellow Tigrinya singer Solomon Yikunoamlak. Referring to previous accusations that Shewit had borrowed material from other artists, Danu suggested that the similarities raised fresh questions about whether the singer had a recurring problem with plagiarism.

The reviewer also referenced an earlier controversy involving Shewit that dates back to around 2014, when she was accused of lifting lines in her song Harirey. At the time, Eritrean artist Tareke Tesfahiwet expressed his anger, claiming that Shewit had failed to give due credit for his contribution. The dispute escalated to the point where both artists were invited to a VOA Tigrigna program, where they presented their respective positions. Although the song drew on an old folk tradition, tensions persisted over issues of attribution and recognition. Tareke expressed dissatisfaction, arguing that his contribution or interpretation had not been acknowledged by Shewit.

This past week the online discussion intensified further after another clip began circulating widely on social media, taken from one of Shewit’s interviews from a year earlier. At the interviewer’s request, Shewit briefly hummed Selam Kebleki, a well-known song originally performed by the late Eritrean singer Alamin Abdullatif, which she had previously included in an album released fourteen years ago. During the interview, Shewit did not explicitly acknowledge the original artist, prompting criticism from many Eritreans. Following the renewed attention, she later posted a clarification on Facebook, explaining that in the album where she had previously included the song, Alamin Abdullatif’s name had been fully acknowledged in the credits.

However, the way Shewit was treated in this case also highlights the tensions between Ethiopian Tigrigna speakers and Eritreans, despite their close cultural ties, shared language, and common musical traditions. It raises broader questions about legitimacy and ownership of cultural expression.

Like many people in Tigray, Shewit has close cultural and personal ties to Eritrea. She was born in Senafe, Eritrea, she grew up in Mekelle, Tigray. She first entered the music scene in 2012 with her debut album Yismerelki, which was well received. Much of her early career was spent in Circus Tigray, where she worked as part of a musical troupe, travelling to different parts of the country and abroad. She has built a broad fan base over the years, both among Ethiopians and Eritreans in the diaspora. When she performed abroad, she collaborated with Eritrean singers on a few occasions.

This event sparked a back-and-forth debate among many Eritreans and Tigrayans, with TikTok users pointing out similarities in songs performed by artists from both sides. For instance, Meles G/Mikael from Tigray also copied the song by Eritrean legend Osman Abdelrahim, “Fikri ‘Uwir Amine,” with some users questioning whether he had the authorization to do so.

Plagiarism accusations and copyright infringement disputes are longstanding features of the music industry. Over the years, numerous high-profile artists have faced allegations that their hit songs borrowed too heavily from earlier works. While such disputes in Western countries have often resulted in lawsuits and court rulings, many cases here are resolved through private settlements, or informal negotiations rather than formal legal proceedings. As a result, allegations of musical borrowing frequently remain matters of public debate rather than subjects of judicial determination.

As for Shewit, she has already established a dominant presence on Tigrigna music scene, and her song Weley continues to attract significant attention from listeners. Whether the plagiarism allegations will affect her reputation or career, however, remains to be seen.