This study critically explores the theoretical and methodological challenges associated with researching rural crime in African contexts. It emphasises the need for a decolonised and locally informed criminological framework that reflects the sociocultural, economic, and historical realities of rural African communities. Rural crime remains an under-explored area in African criminology, often overshadowed by urban-centric models and Western paradigms that fail to address the continent’s unique local conditions. Rural crime in Africa is frequently overlooked in academic research, policy design, and law enforcement strategies. Existing frameworks are often imported and ill-suited to the rural African context, lacking engagement with indigenous knowledge systems, traditional justice mechanisms, and community-based understandings of crime and justice. This disconnect limits the effectiveness of interventions and impedes the development of relevant crime prevention models. The primary aim is to assess the conceptual and methodological limitations in the current study of rural crime in Africa and propose a decolonised, context-sensitive criminological approach. The study seeks to centre African experiences, values, and justice practices within rural criminological inquiry to develop more responsive and sustainable crime prevention strategies. The study adopts a systematic literature review approach, drawing on both historical and contemporary sources to analyse existing theoretical debates and empirical studies on rural crime in Africa. The review includes peer-reviewed journal articles, policy documents, and grey literature published between 2000 and 2024, ensuring a balanced synthesis of both classic and current perspectives. The analysis is guided by thematic content analysis to identify recurring gaps, biases, and emerging frameworks relevant to the African rural context. This study contributes to the advancement of African criminology by highlighting the importance of decolonising rural crime research. Advocating for methodological pluralism that incorporates both qualitative and community-participatory research methods. Elevating indigenous knowledge systems and traditional dispute resolution in criminological discourse. Offering a foundation for rural crime policy development that is rooted in local context rather than imposed from global North models. Addressing rural crime in Africa requires an epistemic shift towards inclusive, decolonised, and community-oriented frameworks. The study concludes that a reconceptualisation of rural criminology rooted in African realities is vital for developing effective interventions, empowering rural communities, and contributing meaningfully to the global criminological canon. Future research should expand on this foundation through interdisciplinary collaboration and community-engaged methodologies.