Apart from music, do you know that Ruggedman is known for his social activism, particularly against police brutality in Nigeria?
Ruggedman commonly refered to as Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, hails from Ohafia Local Government, Abia State.
The musician on different fora, has actively called out instances of police harassment, extortion, intimidation, and extra-judicial killings.
The Abia born musician, makes use of his platform to share nerve-wracking videos of abuse and expose offending officers. He has continued to exhibit zero tolerance for brutality in every aspect.
During the #ENDSARS saga, Ruggedman was identified as one of the first celebrities to lend his voice, which started as a social media movement in 2017.
The movement which was a demand for the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit, also saw Ruggedman dismiss claims by a police spokesperson that he had changed his position on the matter, insisting the unit should be taken off the streets.
He has also used his music as a tool for social change and that was why in 2018, he released the song and video “Is Police Your Friend?” This directly addressed police violence and human rights abuses.
The Abia born musician, also used the #FvckYouChallenge to send a powerful message to the police in light of citizen killings. Acknowledging the need to speak for the voiceless, Ruggedman has always harped on the need for activism, emphasising that activism is about speaking up for victims who may not know their rights or who to reach out to.
Ruggedman who is a revered figure in the music industry, has floated the Ruggedman Care Foundation to get support for his cause of eradicating human rights abuses. He has continually appealed to Nigerians to unite and take action against police brutality.
He has also opined that what people need right now is less talk and more action just as he has called on officials in the country to set better examples and be held accountable for their misbehaviors.
A graduate of political science, from Lagos State University, Ruggedman launched his music career in 1999 and gained significant attention in 2002 with his controversial song “Ehen,” which directly addressed the perceived lack of lyrical content in the Nigerian music scene at the time.
He has released all his albums, including the successful Ruggedy Baba (2007), on his personal label, Rugged Records.
Ruggedman has also ventured into acting, appearing in films like Bad Comments and Heartbeats, and has recently started creating skits as a comic character named Mazi Kalu.
Do You Also Know Ruggedman As A Social Activist or Only A Musician?
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