Veteran Nigerian rapper Ruggedman has reignited debate in the music industry with a sharp critique of the popular use of “Afrobeats” as a blanket term for African music.
In a recent interview, Ruggedman argued that the label has been misapplied, often serving as a cover for musicians who lack originality and true talent.
“The widespread categorisation of all African sounds under ‘Afrobeats’ is misleading and diminishes the diversity of music coming out of the continent,” he said.
He noted that the trend originated outside Africa, particularly in the United Kingdom, where different African genres were grouped under a single name for convenience.
Ruggedman expressed concern that, regardless of style or lyrical depth, many artistes are automatically branded as Afrobeats performers whenever they perform internationally.
He further claimed that the genre label has become a “hiding place” for performers who rely on repetitive lyrics, catchy beats, and heavy promotion rather than vocal ability or musical creativity.
Questioning the performance capabilities of some artistes within the space, Ruggedman alleged that only a few can deliver strong live shows without the aid of autotune.
His remarks have already sparked conversations across social media, with industry observers and fans debating the evolving identity of African music.
