Zoë Modiga and BandaBanda Clash Over Thula Remix Release Amid Unresolved Professional Dispute

A song centred on peace, stillness and quiet has unexpectedly become the focus of a very public disagreement between longtime musical collaborators Zoë Modiga and BandaBanda. The tension emerged following the release of “Thula (Culoe De Song Remix)”, with Modiga publicly distancing herself from the track and stating that she had neither been consulted about the release nor given her approval. BandaBanda has since responded with his own account of events, saying that attempts were made to engage Modiga before the remix was released. His statement also indicates that the disagreement extends beyond the song itself and involves broader unresolved professional matters between the two artists. The situation has therefore placed a spotlight on questions around communication, ownership, rights and professional relationships within collaborative music projects.

In an official statement shared by Modiga and her Yelloëwax team, the acclaimed singer-songwriter made it clear that she did not have prior knowledge of or involvement in the release. Modiga said that she had not been consulted about the release and had not provided her approval for it to go ahead. Her statement also revealed that ongoing legal discussions relate to rights, ownership and commercial arrangements surrounding the work. She has instructed her legal representatives to handle the matter and indicated that she does not intend to publicly debate the underlying dispute while the legal process continues. Her position places the focus on the formal legal and professional processes that she believes should determine how the matter is resolved.

BandaBanda has since put forward his own version of events in a lengthy statement addressing the controversy surrounding the remix. According to the musician and producer, the original version of “Thula” was released on 12 June 2025 before the song was re-recorded live in 2026 as part of ISIKHATHI. He says that the music was shared with Modiga before the remix was released and that communications concerning the matter form part of a documented record. His account does not explicitly establish that Modiga approved the commercial release of the remix, which remains an important distinction given her statement that she did not give approval. Instead, BandaBanda maintains that efforts were made over several months to engage with Modiga about the remix and other outstanding professional matters.

BandaBanda says those attempts included meetings, correspondence, follow-ups and efforts to reschedule conversations that had not taken place. He maintains that these efforts were intended to create an opportunity for the outstanding matters to be discussed and resolved. However, according to his account, those attempts did not result in a resolution between the parties. The disagreement therefore appears to involve more than a question about whether a particular remix should have been released. It also raises broader issues about communication between collaborators and the professional arrangements that governed their work together.

One of the most significant aspects of BandaBanda’s statement is his reflection on nearly nine years of working with Modiga. He described having invested a substantial amount of creativity, time, energy and resources into the musical journey they shared. At the same time, he made it clear that he remains proud of what they created together and does not intend to diminish the value of their previous work. However, he also argued that no individual should be expected to remain indefinitely suspended in unresolved professional matters. His comments suggest that the dispute surrounding “Thula” may have brought longer-running concerns into the public eye.

The history between Modiga and BandaBanda adds considerable weight to the current disagreement. Their professional relationship has involved years of collaboration across different aspects of music, making their current positions particularly notable to people who have followed their work. Disagreements can become more complicated when they involve collaborators who have built an extensive creative history together. Questions surrounding ownership, rights, commercial arrangements and communication can become especially important when music has been developed across several years and through multiple releases. The “Thula” remix dispute appears to sit within that broader professional history rather than existing as an isolated disagreement.

The controversy has also attracted attention because of the meaning associated with “Thula”. The song is centred on peace, stillness and quiet, creating an unexpected contrast with the public disagreement that has emerged around its release. BandaBanda acknowledged that contrast in a social media message directed toward Modiga, pointing out that a song about stillness had become surrounded by considerable public noise. He ended the message by expressing his continued desire for peace. The statement adds an emotional dimension to the dispute while reinforcing the central theme associated with the song itself.

At the heart of the controversy are two significantly different accounts of what happened before the remix was released. Modiga maintains that she did not know about, participate in or approve the release, while BandaBanda says the music was shared with her and that documented attempts were made to engage her before the release. Those positions are not necessarily identical because receiving or hearing music does not automatically amount to granting legal or commercial permission for its release. The underlying contracts, correspondence and agreements would be needed to establish the exact rights and permissions held by each party. Without those documents being made public, the full circumstances surrounding the release cannot be independently determined from the statements alone.

The disagreement also highlights the importance of clear communication and documented agreements when artists collaborate on music. A song can involve multiple creative contributions, production decisions, commercial arrangements and ownership considerations before it reaches an audience. When those areas are not clearly resolved, disagreements can emerge even after years of successful collaboration. The “Thula” situation shows how questions that may initially remain within a professional relationship can eventually become public when a release takes place without all parties appearing to share the same understanding. It also demonstrates why artists and producers often need clearly defined agreements covering the use, ownership and commercial release of collaborative work.

For Modiga, the decision to involve her legal representatives indicates that she wants the dispute addressed through formal channels rather than through an extended public argument. Her statement makes clear that she considers the issues serious enough to require legal attention, particularly around rights, ownership and commercial arrangements. By choosing not to debate the underlying matter publicly, she has placed responsibility for addressing those questions with her representatives. This approach also leaves room for the relevant documentation and agreements to determine the outcome. Until that process develops further, her public position remains that she did not approve the release in question.

BandaBanda, meanwhile, has indicated that he is prepared to let the documented correspondence and attempts to engage speak for themselves. His statement focuses on the efforts he says were made to address the remix and other unresolved professional matters before the release. He also appears to be drawing a distinction between the value of his long professional relationship with Modiga and the need to resolve outstanding issues. His comments suggest that he considers the current situation part of a larger professional matter that has remained unresolved for some time. At the same time, his decision to return his attention to his music, family and work indicates that he does not appear interested in continuing a prolonged public dispute.

The situation is particularly significant because both artists have established identities and histories within South African music. Public disagreements between longtime collaborators can attract considerable attention because audiences often associate artists with the creative partnerships that helped shape their careers. In this case, the dispute has placed a familiar collaboration under scrutiny while raising questions about how creative relationships can change over time. It also demonstrates that successful artistic partnerships can involve complex professional arrangements behind the music that listeners hear. The disagreement surrounding “Thula” has therefore become about more than one remix, with the wider history between the collaborators now forming an important part of the discussion.

For now, the central questions surrounding the release remain unresolved publicly. Modiga says she was not consulted and did not approve the release, while BandaBanda maintains that efforts were made to communicate and engage before the remix became available. The two accounts point to different understandings of the events leading up to the release, but the underlying legal and professional documentation has not been publicly presented in full. As Modiga’s legal representatives handle the matter, the focus is likely to remain on the rights, ownership and commercial arrangements connected to the work. Until those issues are resolved, the public debate is likely to continue around the circumstances behind the remix rather than the music itself.

The disagreement between Zoë Modiga and BandaBanda is a striking development given their long history of working together and the peaceful message at the heart of “Thula”. What began with the release of “Thula (Culoe De Song Remix)” has developed into a public disagreement involving claims about consultation, approval, communication and broader professional matters. Modiga has chosen to pursue the issue through legal channels, while BandaBanda has placed his account of the events on record and maintained that efforts were made to engage. The situation remains unresolved, and the full picture will depend on the agreements and documentation surrounding their professional relationship. For now, a song created around peace and stillness has become an unexpected reminder of how complex creative partnerships can become when questions of rights, ownership and communication remain unsettled.

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