Fans Concerned Over Misuse of Late Rapper Yama Buddha’s Digital Legacy

Kathmandu: More than eight years after the death of rapper Anil Adhikari, popularly known as Yama Buddha, a defining name in Nepali hip-hop, controversy over his digital legacy has reignited on social media. Fans, colleagues, and family members have raised concerns about who controls his official Facebook page, which has over 1.1 million followers.

Yama Buddha was found dead in London on January 14, 2017, reportedly by suicide. His social media accounts should have been managed by his family, but allegations of misuse have now turned this issue serious.

Even after his death, his official Facebook page continues to be updated, often with unrelated content instead of posts about his music or memories. In 2020, his page’s bio and website were linked to Pakistan’s ‘Iraj Productions,’ and the page began promoting that production house’s videos. Shortly before his death, Yama Buddha had collaborated with Iraj Productions for the song Nachan, featuring international artists.

After his passing, the page appears to have come under Iraj Productions’ control, leading fans to suspect misuse. Facebook’s page transparency shows that the page is currently operated from Nepal, adding to the confusion.

Artists and musicians have now begun to speak out. Lay Zy, music producer at Rabarz Records, questioned why access to Yama Buddha’s Facebook and YouTube accounts remains out of the family’s hands. “After Yama Buddha’s death, all legal and moral rights to his digital assets should belong to his parents,” he said. “Unreleased songs and videos like Dance 101 should have been released from his official platform, not from someone else’s channel.”

Zy also criticized Iraj Productions for staying silent and questioned the family’s limited involvement. He expressed concern that Yama Buddha’s ex-wife may still have important materials like his laptop and hard drive. “Iraj’s silence makes it seem like someone is hiding something,” he said.

A Facebook page called HipHop Magazine also condemned the Nepali hip-hop industry’s silence on the matter. “Those who once called Yama Buddha their inspiration are silent while others run his official page. No one raised a voice or tried to protect his legacy,” it wrote.

The page emphasized that Yama Buddha was more than an artist, he was a movement and a voice for the voiceless, and it is unfortunate to see the industry’s apathy toward preserving his memory. Fans and the YB Fans Club have also been actively raising this issue.

According to the fan club, Yama Buddha’s Facebook and YouTube accounts are neither managed by his family nor the YB Foundation. They accused Iraj Productions of misusing these platforms and taking the revenue generated from them. The family reportedly tried to contact Iraj but received no response. They are now demanding that ownership be transferred to the Yama Buddha Foundation to preserve his legacy and support social causes.

Yama Buddha’s YouTube channel, with over 700,000 subscribers, has been inactive since his death. On May 6, 2017, his Instagram account posted promotional material for the song Taj, but that video has since disappeared from YouTube. His Twitter account, created around 2011, is now suspended. Archived posts from 2012 remain visible through the Wayback Machine.

Globally, families and teams of deceased public figures often use official accounts to keep their memory alive. Whether it’s Indian singer Sidhu Moosewala or football legends like Pele and Maradona, their accounts still share tributes and past works. In contrast, Yama Buddha’s Facebook page is being used for unrelated promotions, something his supporters call disrespectful.

There is growing demand to hand over his digital platforms to legitimate representatives, release his unreleased songs, and produce a documentary about his contributions to Nepali music.

Kathmandu Mayor and rapper Balendra Shah (Balen), who once performed in Yama Buddha’s rap battle show Raw Barz, had promised to build a skatepark in his memory. He says the work is about 50 percent complete. However, Balen, known for understanding the value of social media, has not publicly commented on the ongoing controversy, drawing criticism for his silence.

 

पछिल्लो अध्यावधिक: असोज २६, २०८२ १४:५०

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