The music industry loves a tragic story of a broke, exploited legend.
It makes for powerful documentaries, but miserable realities.
For decades, the structural fix was often reactive: trying to explain publishing splits to a young artist only after they had already signed away too much for too little.
Sakhele Mzalazala decided to attack the root instead.
The music rights consultant announced and completed What is Copyright? Our Song in mid-2026. It is an illustrated educational publication aimed at primary school learners, music students, young adults and people with limited knowledge of music rights.
This is a brilliant, necessary shift.
Why wait for young creatives to enter the shark tank before teaching them how to swim?
By breaking down intellectual property, royalties and creative ownership into accessible, character-driven storytelling, Mzalazala is doing something that feels like generational repair.
The independent release through SM Communications is not just a cute educational tool.
It is armour.
If young creatives understand ownership earlier, they enter the industry less vulnerable to unfair deals later.
That is the real point.
Music rights education should not begin when the contract is already on the table.
It should begin before the dream gets expensive.
Story index Key points, people & topics
Key points & topics
- With What is Copyright? Our Song, Sakhele Mzalazala is pushing music rights education beyond industry workshops and into classrooms, libraries and early creative learning.
- Sakhele Mzalazala’s What is Copyright? Our Song is more than a children’s book. It is an early intervention in a music industry where too many creatives only learn about ownership after the damage is done.
- Sakhele Mzalazala’s What is Copyright? Our Song teaches young learners about copyright, royalties and creative ownership before they enter the music industry.
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Filed by Viranova Music Desk for the Music desk · South Africa. Published 12 Jun 2026.
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