An African singer has accused Michael Jackson and Rihanna of stealing a hook from one of his songs.

Manu Dibango, 75, claims the pair have both used the same sample from his 1972 song 'Soul Makossa' in separate tracks without permission.

Jackson has previously reached a financial settlement with Dibango over the use of the hook in his 1983 hit 'Wanna Be Startin' Something'.

However, in a lawsuit filed in a Paris court yesterday (February 3rd), Dibango claims Rihanna failed to ask him for permission to use the same hook one her 2007 song 'Please Don't Stop The Music'.

Rihanna is believed to have only sought permission from Jackson to use the sample.

Dibango is understood to be seeking 500,000 euros in damages and requested that the French courts block the artists' record labels from receiving money from the tracks until the lawsuit is resolved.

Judges will decide on February 17th whether the African singer's case will be heard, according to the Associated Foreign Press.

(by Jason Gregory)