Revealed: Why Kayole Girls Date Thugs, Chichi's Eye-Opening Interview
Poverty often drives people to desperate measures, and many will do whatever it takes to escape it. Whether we like it or not, love can sometimes become one of those escape routes.
In the ghetto, it’s not uncommon for girls to pursue relationships with gangsters as a shortcut to a better life. Chichi shared how her life took a tragic turn after falling for a man who seemed like her “ideal” partner.
During an interview on Tales by Titus, Chichi highlighted that many women in Kayole date gangsters not just for love or money, but for protection. “Kayole is not a safe place, and women feel the need for someone to protect them,” she said.
“Girls want to be able to say, ‘If you mess with me, I’ll report you to so-and-so.’” She explained that many girls genuinely believe gangsters will defend them if they face danger.
She spoke openly about how poverty led her astray. Growing up in Kayole, she lived in a cramped single room with her single mother and two siblings. Life was incredibly tough.
The struggles eventually forced her to drop out of school in Form Three after falling into bad company. She admitted that the influence of those around her led her to get tattoos, inspired by dancehall artists like Vybz Kartel.
“I was inspired by Vybz Kartel to get tattoos,” she said, explaining that at the time, she thought they were cool.
Chichi went on to describe how many girls in the ghetto date thugs, usually driven by the allure of money or intense infatuation. These relationships, she noted, tend to be short-lived but emotionally consuming.
She recalled a heartbreaking experience involving her first boyfriend, who was accused of theft and brutally murdered.
“I came back and found him dead. I asked myself, ‘Was he really a thief?’” she said, her voice filled with emotion.
Tearfully, she spoke of another friend who died in a similar way because of her relationship with a gangster. Chichi stressed how dangerous it is for girls to get involved with such men—especially as gangsters often prey on younger, more vulnerable girls.
She mentioned that, at times, neighbours would try to warn girls before things escalated—but the temptation was difficult to resist.
She also touched on the role of fame. Many gangsters in Kayole are feared and well-known, and girls often want to be associated with them as a way to gain status and acceptance in the community.
“Everyone wants to be associated with fame,” Chichi noted. She likened it to the saying, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do."
Chichi revealed that over the years, she has seen countless young girls—some as young as eleven—fall under the same negative influences and get involved in crime at a tender age.
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She told Tales by Titus that this cycle of crime and corruption continues to entrap girls in Kayole.
Despite all the hardship, Chichi ended her story with a glimmer of hope. She made it clear that not everyone in Kayole is a gangster, but life there is undeniably difficult. “It’s not a bed of roses,” she concluded.
