AfriPulse
Ruggedman, a Nigerian rapper, expressed concerns about the longevity of the term “Afrobeats” for Nigerian music.
He believes that the label may soon fade away.
His comments were made during an appearance on Channels Television’s Rubbin’ Minds.
Ruggedman has suggested that the label “Afrobeats” for Nigerian music may not last much longer.
“I have a feeling that this whole Afrobeats tag might fade away soon,” he remarked.
The rapper, whose real name is Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, shared his thoughts during an appearance on Channels Television’s Rubbin’ Minds on Sunday.
While he expressed pride in the global recognition of Nigerian music, he admitted that the aspect he finds less appealing is the current quality of the tracks.
“The only thing I’m not too thrilled about is the quality of the music; not many are producing what I truly respect,” Ruggedman noted.
Although the terms “Afrobeat” and “Afrobeats” are often used interchangeably, some argue they are distinct: Afrobeat, pioneered by Fela Kuti, is a revolutionary, instrumental genre, whereas Afrobeats refers to the contemporary, commercially oriented African pop sound.
On the topic of rap, Ruggedman commented, “Rap seems to have taken a backseat because many are focused on quick money.” He explained that fewer artists are producing rap, in part because promoting and marketing it demands more resources than Afrobeats.
During the interview, Ruggedman also criticized the Nigerian music distribution system, questioning why the industry frequently relies on foreign validation.
He further challenged the practice of labeling legendary Nigerian musicians such as Fela Kuti, King Sunny Ade, and Kwam1 under the Afrobeats banner. “I wish they had simply stuck with calling it Nigerian music,” he concluded.
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