Ruggedman Questions Why Fela And KSA Are Categorized As Afrobeats Legends

Nigerian rapper and activist, Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, popularly known as Ruggedman, has expressed dissatisfaction with the classification of legendary Nigerian musicians such as Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, King Sunny Ade, and K1 De Ultimate under the “Afrobeats” music category.

According to Ireporter Online, the veteran rapper made this known during an interview on Channels Television’s Rubbin’ Minds programme on Sunday. He argued that music from these icons should have been left under the broader label of Nigerian music, rather than being grouped into a genre that, in his view, differs in essence and style.

Ruggedman noted that while Afrobeat and Afrobeats may sound similar, they are fundamentally distinct. He explained that Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat was a revolutionary, instrumental-driven sound with deep social messages, while Afrobeats represents today’s contemporary African pop sound that dominates global charts.

He further expressed concern that the Afrobeats tag might soon lose its relevance, emphasizing that Nigerian music as a whole now commands global attention. “I just have a feeling that this whole Afrobeats thing, the tag might end soon. Nigerian music is at the forefront and I’m happy about that,” he said.

The rapper, however, lamented a perceived decline in the quality of recent music output, stating that few artistes are producing songs that meet his artistic standards.

On the state of rap in Nigeria, Ruggedman observed that the genre has taken a backseat, as many artistes are now prioritizing commercial success. “Unfortunately, rap has kind of taken a backseat because people want to do something that gives them money quickly. It also costs more to push and promote rap than Afrobeats,” he explained.

Speaking about his latest musical experiment, Ruggedman revealed that he has recorded acoustic versions of five of his songs—Ruggedy Baba, Baraje, Change, Won’t Battle, and One Man—in collaboration with renowned guitarist Fiokee. He described the project as a groundbreaking effort in Nigerian rap. “This is the first time any Nigerian rapper has done this—just guitar and rap. It lets you hear the lyrics clearly and feel the soul behind the words,” he said.