By Ayodele Johnson

Spot Nigerian Afrobeats singer or the Jonzing World Records signee, Michael Adebayo Olayinka – Ruger in his hair dyed pink. One moment he is bowing his head at the holiest site in the Jewish faith, the Western Wall while visiting the old city of Jerusalem, and another time 60 kilometres away in Tel Aviv, he had just missed the start of a war in Israel.

The war started on Saturday 7 October when Palestinian militants Hamas from the Gaza Strip decided to take loads of Israeli hostages from their homes. Both sides, that is, the citizens of Isreal, including members of its armed forces and their Arab neighbours are part of huge casualties.

Well, Ruger had been on a tour and his last stop was Israel – that is how he got tangled up in the situation, but thankfully he managed to escape the exchange of rocket fires sent by Israel and Hamas into their territories.

Via his Instagram on Sunday was where he sent out an emoji requesting prayer for Israel and wishing for tranquillity in the world.

“Israel is at war now and it’s very sad. It started as soon as I and my team took off from Tel Aviv to head back home. So guys!!! I really appreciate your concern 🙏🏾 I’m safe. But please we need peace in the world right now!!! We don’t want innocent people dying 🙏🏾 we just want to LIVE AND LOVE,” reads a post from the 24-year-old.

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Not long after this, it was back to promoting his next show happening back in Lagos. Ever since Ruger dropped the “Ru the World” album on 1 September, he hasn’t revealed himself to the home crowd. It looks like the wait will end in four days at an event he titles The Celebration.

ALSO READ: Ruger shines through in his second EP track, Dior

What a theme that ties with the eureka mode in which the singer has found himself. These past weeks have offered moments of discovery and knowing oneself for him. Even if he does not get all the love from his home country Nigeria, out there in the world, it has been good to feel appreciated.

Ruger’s visit to Israel taught him that, although the breakout of hostilities between his host and Palestinians has also brought on a mixed feeling, indicating that peace is still missing in the world.

For any music listener looking for a distraction from perpetual conflict, “Ru the World” can give that. It is a 17-track album listing extraordinary singles that already had fans bobbing heads through their earbuds.

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The eighth track ‘Asiwaju’ has made an impression actually. So, what is left is to fully get into the vibe of his ‘Addiction’ with British rapper and former Burna Boy’s girlfriend Stefflon Don, sitting in the fifth spot.

Ayodele Johnson

Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.