A Culture of Corruption: Everyday Deception and Popular Discontent in Nigeria

by Daniel Jordan Smith

E-mails proposing an "urgent business relationship" help make fraud Nigeria's largest source of foreign revenue after oil. But scams are also a central part of Nigeria's domestic cultural landscape. Corruption is so widespread in Nigeria that its citizens call it simply "the Nigerian factor." Willing or unwilling participants in corruption at every turn, Nigerians are deeply ambivalent about it--resigning themselves to it, justifying it, or complaining about it. They are painfully aware of the damage corruption does to their country and see themselves as their own worst enemies, but they have been unable to stop it. A Culture of Corruption is a profound and sympathetic attempt to understand the dilemmas average Nigerians face every day as they try to get ahead--or just survive--in a society riddled with corruption.


Drawing on firsthand experience, Daniel Jordan Smith paints a vivid portrait of Nigerian corruption--of nationwide fuel shortages in Africa's oil-producing giant, Internet cafés where the young launch their e-mail scams, checkpoints where drivers must bribe police, bogus organizations that siphon development aid, and houses painted with the fraud-preventive words "not for sale." This is a country where "419"--the number of an antifraud statute--has become an inescapable part of the culture, and so universal as a metaphor for deception that even a betrayed lover can say, "He played me 419." It is impossible to comprehend Nigeria today--from vigilantism and resurgent ethnic nationalism to rising Pentecostalism and accusations of witchcraft and cannibalism--without understanding the role played by corruption and popular reactions to it.

Genres: Anthropology, Africa, Ethnography, Nonfiction, Western Africa

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Samir Salifou · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Culture of Corruption: Everyday Deception and Popular Discontent in Nigeria, written by Daniel Jordan Smith was a fascinating look into the nature of corruption in Nigeria. Contrary to what the title may suggest, the author discusses the way in which corruption has been institutionalized from a political, societal, and personal perspective. Having visited Nigeria and seen most of these corrupt practices firsthand I tend to agree with the author that the pervasiveness of corruption has a perverse effect on the proper function of government. I wish the author would have spent more time discussing effects of Nigeria being a rentier state which exports the majority of its Oil and Natural Gas reserves to Europe and the United States.

The author does an exceptional job showing the omnipresence of corruption in Nigerian society. He also does a great job explaining the way in which Nigerians participate in corrupt practices highlighting their reluctance to pay-to-play, while showing the necessity for them to engage in corruption for practical purposes. The institutionalization of corruption has led to a weak state where vigilantism has taken root due to a lack of confidence in the capacity of the state (federal and local) to conduct business. I agree with the author that the ubiquity of the 419 terminology shows that fraud and corruption are associated with immoral acts.

It may come across at times that the author is disregarding Nigerian agency, but I whole heartedly agree with him that in a system where the elite are so openly corrupt, it is rational for the citizens to feel the need to get kickbacks for what they feel they’re due. I think if the author had highlighted the fact that Nigeria is a rentier state, he would have given an additional element to underscore the psychology of corruption and explained the additional layer of instability that elected officials have to contend with in attempting to clean house, if they so desire.

The author leave me asking if there ever will be a solution to the problem of corruption in Nigeria, but I think that is a question that Nigerians will have to grapple with in the long term. To answer that question, I feel that there are few structural changes that have to take place. First, the rule of law must be established where everyone is held accountable for their actions by an independent and powerful judiciary; civil servants have to be able to depend on a fix salary; and the police must have someone policing them (preferably the judiciary). Once those institutional changes are made, respected and upheld then there will be hope for true democratization and development.

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars - Well-done, the author didn't try to do too much. It's about corruption from an anthropological perspective. Corruption is obviously a hard topic to write about because so much of corruption, by definition, is underground and unspoken. But the author does a good job of showing how deeply corruption is embedded in the daily lives of Nigerians. Because it is so embedded it is difficult to get rid of because it is so pervasive. If you don't cheat, someone else will; so it's just a never-ending cycle down to the bottom of people cheating so that they don't get left behind. It's a depressing realization and I don't know how to solve it. Still, I appreciate how much this book added to my understanding of the subject.

My only problem was that the book dragged on quite a bit at times. The anecdotes were excellent and the author did a good job of explaining the general concepts, but he tended to dwell too long on issues and repeat himself a few times. I would definitely recommend this book as a starter for anyone wanting to learn about corruption in the developing world.

[Calley]

Lived it, let's learn more about it.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice insight to the "Nigerian Factor."

[Kristín · Rating 4 out of 5]

a very interesting book!!