Veteran Nigerian rapper Ruggedman has taken aim at the widespread use of “Afrobeats” as a blanket term for music from Africa, warning that it misrepresents the continent’s rich and diverse soundscape.
Speaking during an interview with Day Genius, the artist expressed long-standing dissatisfaction with the label, noting that it groups distinct musical styles under a single identity. He argued that such classification fails to reflect the depth and variety of African music.
Ruggedman also claimed that the term has become a refuge for some performers he considers lacking in skill. According to him, certain artists rely heavily on catchy instrumentals and repetitive street phrases rather than strong lyrical or vocal ability.
He further criticised the performance quality of some acts within the genre, alleging that dependence on autotune and studio production often affects their ability to deliver compelling live shows or freestyle effectively.
Reflecting on the origin of the label, Ruggedman pointed to the United Kingdom as a key driver behind the global branding of African music as Afrobeats. He suggested that the term was popularised abroad before gaining widespread acceptance among Nigerian audiences.
The rapper also voiced frustration over being categorised under the same label when performing internationally, insisting that the classification does not accurately represent his style or artistic identity.
Ruggedman maintained that African music deserves more precise categorisation that acknowledges its diversity, rather than a single umbrella term that, in his view, oversimplifies the industry.
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