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Closeup image of Solange Cesarovna and Didier Awadi performing together onstage, with Awadi rapping into a microphone as Solange Cesarovna looks on, set against a pink and purple lit backdrop.

Didier Awadi · Solange Cesarovna

The Making of a Derivative Work


2 min read


In this behind-the-scenes mini-documentary, we follow CLIP Champions Solange Cesarovna & Didier Awadi as they create a derivative work—a new song based on an existing song.

Dos Atributo was written as a traditional Cabo Verdean morna by poet and songwriter Manuel de Novas. Solange and Didier’s collaboration honors the history and cultural roots of the original work, while contributing new lyrics by Solange, along with Didier’s own brand of Francophone African rap. Remaining true to the spirit of de Novas’ original intent, Solange and Didier dedicate their version of the song to their mothers.

The film offers an intimate glimpse into how Solange and Didier reached out to the A person or company that has Intellectual Property Rights in a musical work, performance or sound recording of the original song, requested and obtained permission, negotiated The controls creators or rights holders have over what they have created or produced and over their identity and image., and agreed on Each rights holder's share of the rights in and income from a musical work. for the new A new work based on a pre-existing work.. Through these shared moments, they highlight the importance of The ownership of rights in a song under copyright law, Creations of the mind, such as copyrighted works, performances, sound recordings, patented inventions, registered designs, or trademarks., and respect for the original creators as a meaningful part of the creative process.

"The most important thing when negotiating rights is to always feel that the final decision is fair."

Solange Cesarovna

"Sometimes we don't do it because we think it's going to be complicated. Sometimes it's not complicated at all. You just have to go for it."

Didier Awadi

Credits

Featuring Didier Awadi and Solange Cesarovna
Filmed in Praia, Cabo Verde; Dakar, Senegal; and Geneva, Switzerland
Photos of Manuel de Novas courtesy of Neu and Edson Lopes
Sound by Julien Matthey (Geneva)
Studio footage and photos courtesy of Solange Cesarovna and Didier Awadi