Dencia Copied Rihanna's American Oxygen With New Single African Energy?

Rihanna made a controversial splash when she released her new single American Oxygen last month, which references the idea of the American dream, and whether it was still a valid. The patriotic song with its political commentary starts with these lyrics;

"Breathe out, breathe in / This American oxygen / Every breath I breathe / Chasing this American dream / Respect for a nickel and dime / Turn it into an empire."

Now, other commentators are accusing budding musician and enterpreneur, Dencia of copying the idea and concept of Rihanna's song and video in her new single African Energy. See the two videos below and decide...







Dencia's song starts thus;

Feel it, can you feel it / African Energy / Can you feel it, what a feeling / African Energy / We make something from Nada, Hakuna Matata/ From Morocco to Ghana, Cape Verde to Botswana, Bafana Bafana, rest in Peace Mandela, Haile Selasie, Jah Rastafarah..."

In the video for American Oxygen, there are clips from the most emotional moments in US history. Against the background of the American flag, such clips include the burning twin towers on September 11, Ku Klux Klan horsemen, smoldering crosses, Martin Luther King Jr - both alive and dead with his corpse laying in a coffin, and his funeral procession and people crying, America sending space ships to the moon and raising the flag over Iwo Jima.

Dencia video also features processions of the flags of various African countries and shows people and places from the continent including Lupita Nyong'o, Mandela, Fela, Haile Selasie, and more sports stars like Didier Drogba, Serge Ibaka, Samuel Eto'o and others.

What do you think, copied or inspired?

I do think Dencia's outfits were original and very creative...