Afrobeats musician Skales has stirred some controversy after he recently asserted that Nigeria’s crime rate is lower than the UK’s due in large part to the dread of extrajudicial penalties, or “jungle justice.”
Speaking on the Just Vibes podcast, Skales made the case that many Nigerian would-be criminals are deterred by the prospect of immediate and severe street-level retaliation.
He compared Nigeria’s unorganised and frequently violent court system to the UK’s more formalised one, arguing that the UK’s drawn-out legal system would give criminals more confidence.
According to Skales, the immediacy and severity of consequences in Nigeria serve as a powerful deterrent to crime.
“There is less crime in Nigeria because criminals know that if they get caught, jungle justice could be waiting for them,” he said.
However, Skales was quick to clarify that while he acknowledged the deterrent effect of jungle justice, he does not support or encourage it.
He emphasised the importance of fair and legal justice systems, stating, “I don’t support or encourage jungle justice.”
In the same interview, Skales also delved into the topic of Afrobeats, discussing the genre’s fluid and ever-evolving nature.
He explained that Afrobeats is not a rigidly defined style but rather an umbrella term that encompasses a variety of musical influences.
“No one can say exactly how Afrobeats is supposed to sound, Afrobeats has evolved. I love where it is now and where it is going with the new generation artists” he noted.
